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[Childhood bacterial meningitis trends in Japan from 2005 to 2006]

Keisuke Sunakawa1, Kimiko Ubukata, Nahoko Chiba

  • 1Kitasato Institute for Life Science & Graduate School of Infection Control Science, Kitasato University.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi. the Journal of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases
|June 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric bacterial meningitis affects 1.7 per 1,000 hospitalized children annually in Japan. Common pathogens include Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, with increasing drug resistance noted in these bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis remains a significant cause of pediatric morbidity.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and causative pathogens is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the epidemiology of pediatric bacterial meningitis in Japan.
  • To identify common pathogens and their age distribution.
  • To assess antimicrobial resistance patterns and guide treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective survey of pediatric bacterial meningitis cases from January 2005 to December 2006 in Japan.
  • Analysis of case numbers, age distribution, causative pathogens, and antimicrobial susceptibility.
  • Review of treatment guidelines based on pathogen susceptibility.

Main Results:

  • 246 cases of pediatric bacterial meningitis were recorded, with an incidence of 1.7-1.72 per 1,000 pediatric hospitalizations.
  • Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the most frequent pathogens, particularly in children over 4 months.
  • Group B Streptococcus and Escherichia coli were prevalent in infants under 4 months.
  • Significant drug resistance was observed: 59.3% of H. influenzae and 69.3% of S. pneumoniae isolates were resistant in 2004.

Conclusions:

  • Age-specific pathogen distribution guides initial antibiotic choices.
  • Increasing antimicrobial resistance necessitates careful selection of first-line treatments.
  • Combined ampicillin and cephem are effective for younger infants, while carbapenem and cephem combinations are preferred for older children due to resistance patterns.

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