Neonatal Cerebrospinal Fluid, Bacterial Analysis as Seen at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital: A Five-Year Review

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is a very important tool in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis in the new born. Bacterial meningitis is a potent cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal age group, with a very high incidence of neurological complications. Aim: To identify the bacterial pathogens isolated from the cerebrospinal fluids of neonates at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and their sensitivity patterns. This will assist the neonatologist in the choice of empirical antibiotic treatment. Study Design: Retrospective, descriptive, cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2014. Methods: Records of bacterial analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from neonates seen at the special care baby unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital with clinical suspicion of meningitis between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2014 were retrieved from the microbiology record book. Data on patients age, sex, appearance of Cerebrospinal fluid, cell count, microscopy/gram stain, culture and antibiotic sensitivity were retrieved from laboratory record books and entered into a Microsoft® excel spread sheet and analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: One hundred and thirteen neonates: 70 (61.95%) of these patients were male while 43 (38.05%) were females. Only 1 (0.89%) was positive for culture yielding a growth of Escherichia coli which was sensitive to Imipenem, moderately sensitive to Ampicillin, Gentamicin, ceftazidime, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. It was resistant to cefotaxime. 112 (99.11%) of the neonates had presumed neonatal meningitis while only 1 Corresponding author. Y. I. L. Eberechukwu, A. A. Temitayo 248 (0.89%) had proven neonatal meningitis. Conclusions: There is a low yield of organisms in cerebrospinal fluid of neonates at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.