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Updated: May 19, 2026

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat
Published on: October 29, 2014
[A clinical analysis of bacterial meningitis in full-term and preterm infants]
Xiao-Lin Zhao1, Jin-Zhen Guo, Zhan-Kui Li
1Department of Neonatology, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xi'an 710061, China. lzk5808@163.com.
Objective:
To study the clinical features and prognosis of bacterial meningitis in full-term and preterm infants.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 102 neonates with bacterial meningitis. According to the gestational age, they were divided into a preterm group (n=46) and a full-term group (n=56). The two groups were compared in terms of clinical manifestations, laboratory markers, imaging findings, and clinical outcomes.
Results:
Poor response and apnea were the major clinical manifestations in the preterm group (P<0.05), while pyrexia and convulsions were more common in the full-term group (P<0.05). The full-term group had a significantly higher glucose level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) than the preterm group (P<0.05). Compared with the full-term group, the preterm group had significantly higher C-reactive protein level, positive rate of blood culture, and incidence rate of poor prognosis (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in leukocyte count in peripheral blood, levels of leukocytes and protein in CSF, and positive rate of CSF culture (P>0.05).
Conclusions:
There are certain differences in the clinical manifestations between full-term and preterm infants with bacterial meningitis. Preterm infants tend to have a higher incidence rate of poor prognosis.
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