Risk factors for adverse outcomes of bacterial meningitis

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk factors for adverse outcomes from bacterial meningitis. Methodology: From a cohort of 166 children with bacterial meningitis who were studied prospectively, 130/158 (82%) survivors underwent neurological, neuropsychological, audiological and behaviour assessments 5-9 years following their illness. Results: Major adverse outcomes included 8/166 (4.8%) deaths and severe neurological; intellectual or audiological sequelae in 11/130 (8.5%) children followed. Another 24 (18.5%) had cognitive, auditory or behaviour disorders. Bivariate analysis found age ≤12 months, tertiary referral, symptoms >24 h before diagnosis, seizures, focal neurological signs, deteriorating con..