Bacteriological Profile of Pyogenic Meningitis in Tertiary Care Hospital, Ahmedabad

Aims: Bacterial meningitis remains a major cause of mortality and long term neurological sequelae worldwide. The purpose of present study was to identify the pathogen in pyogenic meningitis and to determine its antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Material and Methods: Present study was undertaken from July 2010 to December 2011 included 1470 CSF samples of clinically suspected pyogenic meningitis cases in all age groups. The samples were subjected to macroscopic examination, microscopic examination, Gram’s stain and culture tests. The organisms isolated in the study were characterized by standard procedure and antibiotic susceptibility tests according to CLSI guidelines. Results: Bacterial pathogens were isolated from 205 samples showing an isolation rate of 13.94%. Gram’s stain positivity was 61.95%. Among the isolated organisms, 69.26% were gram negative bacilli and 30.74% were gram positive cocci. The most commonly isolated bacteria were K. pneumoniae (22.92%) & S. aureus in 19.02%. Pyogenic meningitis was more common in paediatric patients than adults. K. pneumoniae and Enterococci spp. were most common isolated in neonatal age group. Most common organisms isolated in neurosurgical patients were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococci aureus. 09.10% gram negative organisms were ESBLs. Only 2 Gram positive isolates were MRSA. Conclusion: The frequency of single as well as multiple drug resistance was very high among the bacterial isolates. Antibiogram study indicated that the third generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides can be used as single or in combinations for the empirical treatment of bacterial meningitis till culture and sensitivity report is awaited.