BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PYOGENIC MENINGITIS CASES IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Meningitis is a Medical emergency, because of known high morbidity and mortality and long term neurological squealed early diagnosis and prompt treatment is extremely important. 100 CSF samples were collected from clinically suspected meningitis. Samples were processed in the laboratory and the organisms were identified as per standard procedures. Antibiotic sensitivity testing of all the isolates was done by Kirby Bauer’s disc diffusion method. All case records reviewed simultaneously for clinically, biochemically and cytologically to clinch the diagnosis. CSF gram staining and biochemical results were taken as gold standard. Out of 100 cases 14 cases were found to be cultured positive. Cultures grew Streptococcus pneumoniae in 21.4% cases, S. pneumoniae was the most common isolate. Staphylococcus aureus, CoNS and Streptococcus spp. were isolated in 14.2% cases each. Gram negative bacilli were responsible for 4 isolates (28.57%). Acinetobacter was the most common isolate (21.42%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.14%). Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates exhibited 100% sensitivity to all drugs except, Co-trimoxazole, Cephalexin and Ciprofloxacin (66% sensitive). Staphylococcus aureus exhibited 50% sensitivity to all drugs. One isolate of Staphylococcus aureus showed resistant to all drugs except for Imipenem. Streptococcus spp. showed 100% sensitivity to all drugs except for Gentamicin (50%). Enterococcus showed 100% sensitivity to all drugs except Co-trimoxazole and Cephalexin showed resistance. A combination of CSF culture and microscopic examination is highly specific for early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis and performing an antibacterial sensitivity test is recommended before any antibiotic therapy.