OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences in clinical features of childhood purulent meningitis (PM) caused by Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and to provide help for the selection of antibiotics for PM children with unknown etiology.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of children with PM caused by Escherichia coli (12 children) or Streptococcus pneumoniae (15 children).

RESULTSCompared with the Streptococcus pneumoniae infection group, the Escherichia coli infection group had a significantly higher proportion of children with an age of onset of <3 months and a significantly higher incidence rate of convulsion, but significantly lower incidence rates of severe fever (>39°C) and disturbance of consciousness and a significantly lower proportion of children with an increased leukocyte count at diagnosis (>12×10(9)/L). The results of routine cerebrospinal fluid test and biochemical examinations showed no significant differences between the two groups. Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pneumoniae were resistant to cephalosporins and had a sensitivity to chloramphenicol more than 90%. Escherichia coli was fully sensitive to meropenem and Streptococcus pneumoniae was fully sensitive to vancomycin.

CONCLUSIONSPM caused by Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pneumoniae has different clinical features. As for PM children with severe fever, disturbance of consciousness, and an increased leukocyte count, the probability of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection should be considered. For PM children with an age of onset of <3 months, medium- and low-grade fever, frequent convulsions, and a leukocyte count of <12×10(9)/L, the probability of Escherichia coli infection should be considered.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Escherichia coli ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Suppuration

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of children with meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) and the drug sensitivity of SP strains.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 14 children with SP-infected meningitis between September 2008 and March 2014.

RESULTSOf the 14 cases, 8 cases (57%) aged under 2 years. 13 cases (93%) had fever, 9 cases (64%) had convulsions, and 7 cases (50%) were complicated by septicemia. Eleven cases (79%) had elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts and 10 cases (71%) had elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. All 14 children had an elevated nucleated cell count and neutrophils were identified as the predominant cell type. CSF protein>1000 mg/dL was noted in 9 cases (64%). Ten cases (71%) were cured, 2 cases (14.2%) with sequelae and 2 cases (14.2%) died. The drug sensitivity analysis showed that SP had resistance rates of more than 60% to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and sulfa, but it was sensitive to amoxicillin (93%), vancomycin (100%), chloramphenicol (100%) and levofloxacin (100%).

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical characteristics of children with meningitis caused by SP are not different from those with meningitis caused by other bacteria. SP strains are resistant to common antibiotics used in clinical practice, so it is important to monitor the drug resistance of the strains.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; drug effects

With the widespread emergence of antimicrobial resistance, combination regimens of ceftriaxone and vancomycin (C+V) or ceftriaxone and rifampin (C+R) are recommended for empirical treatment of pneumococcal meningitis. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of meropenem (M), we compared various treatment regimens in arabbit model of meningitis caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP). Therapeutic efficacy was also evaluated by the final bacterial concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at 24 hr. Each group consisted of six rabbits. C+V cleared the CSF at 10 hr, but regrowth was noted in 3 rabbits at 24 hr. Meropenem monotherapy resulted in sterilization at 10 hr, but regrowth was observed in all 6 rabbits at 24 hr. M+V also resulted in sterilization at 10 hr, but regrowth was observed in 2 rabbits at 24 hr. M+V was superior to the meropenem monotherapy at 24 hr (reduction of 4.8 vs. 1.8 log10 cfu/mL, respectively; p=0.003). The therapeutic efficacy of M+V was comparable to that of C+V (reduction of 4.8 vs. 4.0 log10 cfu/mL, respectively; p=0.054). The meropenem monotherapy may not be a suitable choice for PRSP meningitis, while combination of meropenem and vancomycin could be a possible alternative in the treatment of PRSP meningitis.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Human ; Male ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal/*drug therapy ; Penicillins/*pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Thienamycins/*pharmacology ; Time Factors