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Published on: February 23, 2014
Risk factor analysis for pneumococcal meningitis in adults with invasive pneumococcal infection
I Burckhardt1, F Burckhardt, M VAN DER Linden
1National Reference Centre for Streptococci, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany. irene.burckhardt@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Female sex and pneumococcal serotype 23F are key risk factors for developing pneumococcal meningitis. Advanced age and serotype 1 may offer some protection against this severe infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Pneumococcal meningitis, a severe form of invasive pneumococcal disease, has high mortality and long-term consequences in adults.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention and management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine independent risk factors associated with pneumococcal meningitis in adults.
- To differentiate risk factors for meningitis from those for other invasive pneumococcal disease forms.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, population-based laboratory study of invasive pneumococcal disease in North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (2001-2006).
- Serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of all bacterial isolates.
- Statistical analysis using multiple linear regression to identify risk factors.
Main Results:
- Serotype 23F and female sex were identified as independent risk factors for pneumococcal meningitis.
- Individuals aged 60 years and older, and those with serotype 1, showed a reduced risk.
- No significant association was found between season, penicillin, or macrolide resistance and central nervous system involvement.
Conclusions:
- Specific pneumococcal serotypes (23F) and host factors (female sex) significantly increase the risk of meningitis.
- Age and certain serotypes (1) may have a protective effect against pneumococcal meningitis.
- Antimicrobial resistance patterns did not correlate with the likelihood of meningitis development.
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