BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS IN EGYPT - ANALYSIS OF CSF ISOLATES FROM HOSPITAL PATIENTS IN CAIRO, 1977-78

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (3) , 517-524
Abstract
Studies of the etiology and some laboratory characteristics of bacterial meningitis in Egypt were conducted during 1977-1978. All patients suspected of having bacterial meningitis were studied at the time of admission to the 2 fever hospitals of Cairo. Direct culture, serological identification of the capsular type and countercurrent-immunoelectrophoresis of 1627 CSF specimens were done. Of these, 276 had bacteria identified by culture or Gram stain. Pneumococci were the most common; the serotype distribution was similar to that reported from other parts of Africa; 2nd were meningococci with groups C and B predominating; next frequent was Haemophilus influenzae type b which caused the highest mortality and had an unusually young age distribution. There were 77 bacterial isolates (22%), including 11 species, designated as other because there was no predominant species. There were many clear CSF specimens that contained pneumococci, meningococci or H. influenzae type b, confirming the need for more comprehensive laboratory facilities for accurate diagnosis of the etiology of bacterial meningitis.