Frequency of Neonatal and children bacterial meningitis and determining their antibiotic sensitivity patterns in Hospitals of Iran

Meningitis is one of the most important causes of infant mortality and its early and proper diagnosis is of great importance, but there are currently no laboratory facilities optimized and fast in detection of meningitis pathogens. The current standard of bacterial meningitis diagnosis is microscopic examination and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture. This research aimed at isolating the most common bacteria infecting cerebrospinal fluid and determining their antibiotic sensitivity patterns for cerebrospinal fluid of newborns with meningitis admitted in Hospitals of Iran. The study was carried out on 680 cerebrospinal samples from newborns and children during 2013-2014. From among the 680 newborns and children of interest who were LP according to the doctor’s order, 35 had positive cultures. In the present research, the resistance pattern and antibiotic sensitivity of the bacteria isolated were also examined. H.influenzae was the most prevalent isolate from newborns and E.coli took second place. The most isolated sample was Haemophilus and a large number of this bacterium was sensitive to kanamycin, gentamicin and chloramphenicol. These antibiotics can be used for early empiric treatment of meningitis. Many of these bacteria were resistant to sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, and amoxicillin and their prescription is not recommended.