Related Experiment Videos
Epidemiologic study of bacterial meningitis in Jakarta and Tangerang: preliminary report
H D Pusponegoro1, H Oswari, D Astrawinata
1Department of Child Health, Medical School University of Indonesia, and Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta.
Insights
Bacterial meningitis in Indonesian children is declining, with Haemophilus influenzae identified in some culture-positive cases. Latex agglutination tests show promise for diagnosing bacterial meningitis, unlike Gram stains.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Bacterial meningitis remains a significant concern in pediatric populations.
- Accurate etiological diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and public health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the causative agents of bacterial meningitis in children aged 1 month to 5 years in Jakarta and Tangerang, Indonesia.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods for bacterial meningitis in this age group.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, hospital-based surveillance study involving 100 children.
- Clinical and laboratory findings, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures, latex agglutination tests (LAT), and Gram-stained smears, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Eleven of 16 enrolled subjects were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
- Cerebrospinal fluid cultures identified Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella ozaenae, and Escherichia coli.
- Latex agglutination tests correlated well with culture results, while Gram stains showed low sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- A declining trend in pediatric bacterial meningitis admissions may be linked to early antibiotic treatment.
- Haemophilus influenzae was identified in 33% of culture-positive cases, though based on limited data.
- Latex agglutination tests offer a potentially valuable diagnostic tool, whereas Gram staining requires technique refinement.
Objective:
To identify the cause of bacterial meningitis in children >1 month of age and <5 years of age in several hospitals in Jakarta and Tangerang, Indonesia.
Methods:
Hospital-based, prospective surveillance study of 100 subjects between 1 month and 5 years of age. Subjects meeting inclusion criteria were evaluated for clinical and laboratory findings of bacterial meningitis.
Results:
Of 16 subjects enrolled thus far, 11 have been diagnosed as bacterial meningitis. Of these 11, 6 had positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures (2 with Haemophilus influenzae and one each with Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella ozaenae and Escherichia coli). Three of the 6 had positive latex agglutination tests (LAT; 2 H. influenzae and 1 N. meningitidis); LAT was negative for all 10 with negative CSF culture. CSF Gram-stained smear was positive only for the subject with E. coli.
Conclusions:
The number of children admitted with bacterial meningitis has been declining, perhaps because of early treatment with antibiotics in the community. Of culture-positive cases 33% have been caused by H. influenzae, but this result is based on few patients thus far. LAT has correlated well with culture, whereas Gram stain has had low sensitivity, perhaps reflecting deficiencies in technique.