Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the clinical and laboratory characteristics of meningitis cases followed at our hospital.

Methods: Forty six meningitis cases followed at our hospital in five years were analyzed retrospectively. The demographical features of the patients, their complaints, predisposing factors to meningitis, physical examination and laboratory findings, causative microorganisms and antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial treatment, complications and mortality rates were evaluated.

Results: The mean age of all patients was 45 and 21 of 46 cases were female. Acute bacterial meningitis, tuberculous meningitis and Brucella meningitis was diagnosed in 47.8%, 10.8% and 2.2%, of the patients respectively. High body temperature was found to be the most frequent symptom (80%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in 7 cases, Acinetobacter spp. was isolated in 2 cases and Listeria monocytogenes was isolated in 1 case of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures of patients. Acid-fast bacteria were isolated in 60% of tuberculous meningitis patients. Brucella spp. was isolated from the CSF culture of a patient who was diagnosed as Brucella meningitis, and rose Bengal test result was positive. HSV DNA polymerase chain reaction was positive in one of the aseptic meningitis case. Mortality rate was 14.3% for bacterial meningitis, whereas it was 80% for tuberculous meningitis.

Conclusions: Meningitis is still an important infection with high mortality and morbidity. Isolation rate of causative microorganisms are low. Early diagnosis and treatment is important in tuberculous meningitis cases.