STUDY OF NEONATAL MENINGITIS IN NEONATAL SEPTICEMIA- CAN WE DO BETTER?

Abstract

Introduction: Neonatal meningitis is most of the time remains undetected in all neonatal septicemias as they may not show any signs and symptoms of meningitis. This study was therefore set out to look for the neonatal meningitis in early and late onset neonatal septicemic patients.

Material and Method: This is a cross sectional observational study done in a tertiary care hospital from October 2012 to august 2013 in 155 neonates. Preformed questionnaires were used to note sign of meningitis in babies with early or late onset septicemias. In all groups CSF examination was done to rule out meningitis.

Result: Out of 155, 28(18%) were in grp A (with meningeal signs)and 126(82%) were in Group B(without any signs). It was found that all the patients having meningeal signs were having positive CSF while 58 (48%) newborn were having a positive CSF instead of no meningeal signs (p value significant). Mortality was high 21% in group A and was significantly low10% in group B due to early diagnosis.

Conclusion: CSF is a septic screen diagnostic test for late onset septicemia and should be done in all high risk early onset septicemias are proven facts still it is not done at many centers.