Neonatal meningitis in northern Jordan

Clinical predictors of poor outcome of bacterial meningitis in infants less than 90 days: a systematic review

Background

bacterial meningitis (BM) is more common in infants than at any other time in life and remains a devastating disease with considerable risk of death and morbidity. This article aims to gather the currently available evidence to perform a systematic review of clinical factors that may predict or be associated with BM death and/or sequelae in infants < 90 days of age.

Methods

The Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were systematically searched for prognostic studies that described risk factors for mortality and sequelae in infants aged <90d with BM. The databases were searched from the beginning of the database to December 31st, 2022.The quality of cohort studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The quality of cross-section studies was assessed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). A systematic review was undertaken to ascertain the prognostic factors proven to be noteworthy.

Results

Of the 1,431 studies retrieved, 20 were eligible for the final analysis including 11 cohort and 9 cross-sectional studies were identified. Four risk factors predicting poor outcome were mentioned mostly in those studies, including prematurity or low birth weight (LBW), seizures, coma, and elevated CSF protein. But only preterm, coma and elevated CSF protein were identified by multivariate analyses in more than one study.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates several potential predictive factors to the poor outcomes of BM in infant. But with large heterogeneity, these predictors should be evaluated by further well-designed prospective studies.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, identifier CRD42017074949.

Risk Factors in Predicting Prognosis of Neonatal Bacterial Meningitis-A Systematic Review

Background: Neonatal bacterial meningitis is a severe infection with high mortality and morbidity. It is necessary to identify factors associated with a high risk of a poor prognosis so that we can prevent them with more appropriate treatments. This study was performed to summarize the prognostic factors known to predict adverse outcomes in neonatal bacterial meningitis.

Methods: The Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were searched for studies of prognostic risk factors in neonates with bacterial meningitis. Studies published from the initiation of the database to April 30th, 2017 were included. The quality of cohort studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The quality of cross-section studies was assessed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) scale. Each prognostic factor known to cause adverse outcomes is summarized.

Results: Sixteen studies were identified, including 7 cohort studies and 9 cross section studies. Seizure and high protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) predict a poor prognosis in this disease. Coma, the need for ventilation support, and leukopenia also had some value for predicting poor prognoses. A bulging anterior fontanelle was valuable for predicting mortality. Low CSF glucose levels, thrombocytopenia, gestational age (GA) < 37 weeks and an altered sensorium were correlated with a poor prognosis. A birth weight < 2500 g, early onset meningitis and positive CSF cultures were correlated with mortality.

Conclusions: This study provides a preliminary exploration of prognostic factors in neonatal bacterial meningitis and thereby fills some of the gaps in the study of prognoses in this disease. These prognostic factors can be used to predict and estimate outcomes in neonatal bacterial meningitis. Without a meta-analysis, the reliability of these factors cannot be assured. In addition, these results emphasize that there is an urgent need for a standardized protocol for follow-up and well-designed prognostic studies in neonatal bacterial meningitis.

Predictors of Mortality in Neonates and Infants Hospitalized With Sepsis or Serious Infections in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review

Background: Neonates and infants comprise the majority of the 6 million annual deaths under 5 years of age around the world. Most of these deaths occur in low/middle income countries (LMICs) and are preventable. However, the clinical identification of neonates and infants at imminent risk of death is challenging in developing countries. Objective: To systematically review the literature on clinical risk factors for mortality in infants under 12 months of age hospitalized for sepsis or serious infections in LMICs. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched using MeSH terms through April 2017. Abstracts were independently screened by two reviewers. Subsequently, full-text articles were selected by two independent reviewers based on PICOS criteria for inclusion in the final analysis. Study data were qualitatively synthesized without quantitative pooling of data due to heterogeneity in study populations and methodology. Results: A total of 1,139 abstracts were screened, and 169 full-text articles were selected for text review. Of these, 45 articles were included in the analysis, with 21 articles featuring neonatal populations (under 28 days of age) exclusively. Most studies were from Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Risk factors for mortality varied significantly according to study populations. For neonatal deaths, prematurity, low birth-weight and young age at presentation were most frequently associated with mortality. For infant deaths, malnutrition, lack of breastfeeding and low oxygen saturation were associated with mortality in the highest number of studies. Conclusions: Risk factors for mortality differ between the neonatal and young infant age groups and were also dependant on the study population. These data can serve as a starting point for the development of individualized predictive models for in-hospital and post-discharge mortality and for the development of interventions to improve outcomes among these high-risk groups.

Neonatal bacterial meningitis in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia: a 10-year retrospective review

BACKGROUND

Bacterial meningitis is still a major public health threat in developing countries. It is an overwhelming infection with a high morbidity and mortality rate, especially in neonates. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and etiological agents that cause bacterial neonatal meningitis at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH).

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of 1189 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens submitted to the bacteriology laboratory of TASH for culture from 2001 to 2010. All newborns younger than 29 days old that were suspected for bacterial meningitis cases were included in the study.

RESULTS

Based on CSF culture, 56 newborns were identified as having bacterial meningitis from a total of 1189 suspected cases. The overall prevalence of neonatal bacterial meningitis from the total suspected cases was 4.7%. The organisms identified and their prevalence rates were Streptococcus pneumoniae 13 (23%), Escherichia coli 9 (16%), Acinetobacter 7 (13%), Neisseria meningitides 5 (9%), Klebsiella spp. 5 (9%), Staphylococcus aureus 3 (5%) and Streptococcus pyogen 3 (5%). There were two (4%) cases each that was caused by Coagulase-Negative-Staphylococcus and Non-Group-A-Streptococcus, while 1 (2%) caused by Haemophilus influenzae. S. pneumoniae was the main etiological agent identified from CSF culture. The male to female ratio was 1:0.88 (53% were male). The birth weights of 34 (61%) patients were under 2500 g, and 22 (39%) patients had normal birth weights. Twenty-seven (48%) were early onset cases, and 29 (52%) were late-onset.

CONCLUSION

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were the two main etiological agents for neonatal bacterial meningitis infection in the study area.

Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in high-risk newborns in resource-limited settings: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Improving outcomes beyond survival for high-risk newborns in resource-limited settings is an emerging challenge. Global estimates demonstrate the scale of this challenge and significant gaps in morbidity outcome data in high mortality contexts. A systematic review was conducted to document the prevalence of neurodevelopmental impairment in high-risk newborns who were followed up into childhood in low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS

High-risk newborns were defined as low, very or extremely low birthweight, preterm infants or those surviving birth asphyxia or serious infections. Electronic databases were searched and articles screened for eligibility. Included articles were appraised according to STROBE criteria. Narrative review was performed and median prevalence of key neurodevelopmental outcomes was calculated where data quality allowed.

RESULTS

6959 articles were identified with sixty included in final review. At follow-up in early childhood, median estimated prevalence (inter-quartile range) of overall neurodevelopmental impairment, cognitive impairment and cerebral palsy were: for survivors of prematurity/very low birthweight 21.4% (11.6-30.8), 16.3% (6.3-29.6) and 11.2% (5.9-16.1), respectively, and for survivors of birth asphyxia 34.6% (25.4-51.5), 11.3% (7.7-11.8) and 22.8% (15.7-31.4), respectively. Only three studies reporting outcomes following newborn serious bacterial infections were identified. There was limited reporting of important outcomes such as vision and hearing impairment. Major challenges with standardised reporting of key exposure and developmental outcome variables and lack of control data were identified.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the limitations of the available data on neurodevelopmental outcome in newborns in resource-limited settings provides clear direction for research and efforts to improve long-term outcome in high-risk newborns in these settings.

Effect of case management on neonatal mortality due to sepsis and pneumonia

Background

Each year almost one million newborns die from infections, mostly in low-income countries. Timely case management would save many lives but the relative mortality effect of varying strategies is unknown. We have estimated the effect of providing oral, or injectable antibiotics at home or in first-level facilities, and of in-patient hospital care on neonatal mortality from pneumonia and sepsis for use in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST).

Methods

We conducted systematic searches of multiple databases to identify relevant studies with mortality data. Standardized abstraction tables were used and study quality assessed by adapted GRADE criteria. Meta-analyses were undertaken where appropriate. For interventions with biological plausibility but low quality evidence, a Delphi process was undertaken to estimate effectiveness.

Results

Searches of 2876 titles identified 7 studies. Among these, 4 evaluated oral antibiotics for neonatal pneumonia in non-randomised, concurrently controlled designs. Meta-analysis suggested reductions in all-cause neonatal mortality (RR 0.75 95% CI 0.64- 0.89; 4 studies) and neonatal pneumonia-specific mortality (RR 0.58 95% CI 0.41- 0.82; 3 studies). Two studies (1 RCT, 1 observational study), evaluated community-based neonatal care packages including injectable antibiotics and reported mortality reductions of 44% (RR= 0.56, 95% CI 0.41-0.77) and 34% (RR =0.66, 95% CI 0.47-0.93), but the interpretation of these results is complicated by co-interventions. A third, clinic-based, study reported a case-fatality ratio of 3.3% among neonates treated with injectable antibiotics as outpatients. No studies were identified evaluating injectable antibiotics alone for neonatal pneumonia. Delphi consensus (median from 20 respondents) effects on sepsis-specific mortality were 30% reduction for oral antibiotics, 65% for injectable antibiotics and 75% for injectable antibiotics on pneumonia-specific mortality. No trials were identified assessing effect of hospital management for neonatal infections and Delphi consensus suggested 80%, and 90% reductions for sepsis and pneumonia-specific mortality respectively.

Conclusion

Oral antibiotics administered in the community are effective for neonatal pneumonia mortality reduction based on a meta-analysis, but expert opinion suggests much higher impact from injectable antibiotics in the community or primary care level and even higher for facility-based care. Despite feasibility and low cost, these interventions are not widely available in many low income countries.

Funding

This work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through a grant to the US Fund for UNICEF, and to Saving Newborn Lives Save the Children, through Save the Children US.

Systematic review: neonatal meningitis in the developing world

Meningitis is more common in the neonatal period than any other time in life and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Despite the majority of the burden occurring in the developing world, the majority of the existing literature originates from wealthy countries. Mortality from neonatal meningitis in developing countries is estimated to be 40-58%, against 10% in developed countries. Important differences exist in the spectrum of pathogens isolated from cerebrospinal fluid cultures in developed versus developing countries. Briefly, while studies in developed countries have generally found Group B streptococcus (GBS), Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes as important organisms, we describe how in the developing world results have varied; particularly regarding GBS, other Gram negatives (excluding E. coli), Listeria and Gram-positive organisms. The choice of empiric antibiotics should take into consideration local epidemiology if known, early versus late disease, resistance patterns and availability within resource constraints. Gaps in knowledge, the role of adjuvant therapies and future directions for research are explored.

International perspective on early-onset neonatal sepsis

Infections are a major cause of neonatal death in developing countries. High-quality information on the burden of early-onset neonatal sepsis and sepsis-related deaths is limited in most of these settings. Simple preventive and treatment strategies have the potential to save many newborns from sepsis-related death. Implementation of public health programs targeting newborn health will assist attainment of Millennium Development Goals of reduction in child mortality.

Pathogens associated with sepsis in newborns and young infants in developing countries

INTRODUCTION

Knowledge of pathogens causing infections in young infants (up to 90 days of life) is essential for devising community-based management strategies. Most etiological data from developing countries are hospital-based and may have little relevance to communities in which most babies are born at home.

METHODS

We searched the literature for studies from developing countries reporting etiology of community-acquired infections (sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis) published since 1980. Hospital-based studies reporting early onset sepsis, sepsis among babies admitted from, or born at home were included.

RESULTS

Of 63 studies, 13 focused on community-acquired infections, but limited data were available from home-born neonates. In the first week of life (3209 isolates), Klebsiella species (25%), Escherichia coli (15%), and Staphylococcus aureus (18%) were major pathogens. Group B streptococci (GBS) were relatively uncommon (7%), although regional differences existed. After the first week of life (835 isolates), S. aureus (14%), GBS (12%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (12%), and nontyphoidal Salmonella species (13%) were most frequent. S. pneumoniae (27%) was most common in the postneonatal period (among 141 isolates). Gram-negatives predominated (77%) among home-delivered babies (among 170 isolates).

CONCLUSIONS

Limited information is available on etiology of serious bacterial infections in community settings. Hospital-based studies suggest that most infections in the first week of life are due to Gram-negative pathogens, and many may be environmentally rather than maternally-acquired, owing to unhygienic delivery practices. Such practices may also explain the predominance of Gram-negative infections among home-born infants, although data from home settings are limited. These findings have implications for developing prevention and management strategies in communities and hospitals.

Laboratory-based surveillance of patients with bacterial meningitis in Egypt (1998–2004)

Laboratory-based surveillance for bacterial meningitis was conducted in a network of infectious disease hospitals in Egypt to better understand the epidemiology of this infection. Healthcare and laboratory personnel were trained in basic surveillance and microbiologic processing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens. All bacterial isolates from CSF were confirmed and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. PCR testing was performed on a random subset of purulent, culture-negative CSF specimens. Of 11,070 patients who met criteria for the case definition, 843 (8%) were culture positive (42% positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae, 20% for Haemophilus influenzae serotype b, 17% for each of Neisseria meningitidis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 6% for other bacteria). Of 1,784 (46%) CSF specimens tested by PCR, 232 (13%) were positive for the first three major pathogens. Of N. meningitidis isolates, 52% belonged to serogroup A, 35% to serogroup B, and 4% to serogroup W135. S. pneumoniae isolates comprised 46 different serotypes, of which 6B, 1, 19A, 23F, and 6A were the most predominant. The overall case-fatality rate for culture-positive cases was 26% and was highest among patients with M. tuberculosis (47%). Factors significantly associated with death (p < 0.05) included admission to rural hospitals, long prodromal period, referral from other hospitals, antibiotic treatment prior to admission, and clear CSF (<100 cells/mm3). Susceptibility to ampicillin and ceftriaxone was observed in 44 and 100% of H. influenzae serotype b isolates and in 52 and 94% of S. pneumoniae isolates, respectively. This surveillance highlights the significant mortality and morbidity associated with bacterial meningitis in Egypt. Decision makers need to review current treatment guidelines and introduce appropriate vaccines for prevention and control of the disease.

Hospital-acquired neonatal infections in developing countries

Hospital-born babies in developing countries are at increased risk of neonatal infections because of poor intrapartum and postnatal infection-control practices. We reviewed data from developing countries on rates of neonatal infections among hospital-born babies, range of pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and infection-control interventions. Reported rates of neonatal infections were 3-20 times higher than those reported for hospital-born babies in industrialised countries. Klebsiella pneumoniae, other gram-negative rods (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp, Acinetobacter spp), and Staphylococcus aureus were the major pathogens among 11,471 bloodstream isolates reported. These infections can often present soon after birth. About 70% would not be covered by an empiric regimen of ampicillin and gentamicin, and many might be untreatable in resource-constrained environments. The associated morbidity, mortality, costs, and adverse effect on future health-seeking behaviour by communities pose barriers to improvement of neonatal outcomes in developing countries. Low-cost, "bundled" interventions using systems quality improvement approaches for improved infection control are possible, but should be supported by evidence in developing country settings.