Abstract:
Bacterial meningitis constitute public health problem. Haemophilus influenzae
type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the main
causative agents for bacterial meningitis worldwide. The objective of this
study was to detect pathogenic bacteria associated with meningitis among
Sudanese children.
Cerebrospinal fluid specimens were collected from patients suspected to have
meningitis, the specimens collected by lumbar puncture and examined
macroscopically for appearance, then examined microscopically for white
blood cells count, measuring of protein and glucose. Bacterial meningitis
identified by phenotypic characterization including microscopic examination,
culturing techniques and biochemical reactions were carried out to isolate and
identify the causative bacterial agents following standard procedures. The
identified isolates were also subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing to
determine a curative medicine for treatment of meningitis.
From 100 CSF samples the result of bacterial meningitis obtained from 24
(24%). The isolated bacteria were S. pneumoniae 54.2 %, N. meningitidis 20.8
%, P. aeroginosa 12.5 %, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 8.3 %
and H. influenzae 4.2 %. Detection of tuberculous meningitis using Ziehl-
Neelsen stain for direct smears did not show any acid fast bacilli.
The result of antimicrobial susceptibility showed that all the isolates were
susceptible to cefotaxime, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, and resistant to
gentamycin and amoxicillin. (60%) of S. pneumoniae isolates were sensitive to
penicillin and (70%) were sensitive to chloramphenicol. All MRSA isolates
.were sensitive to vancomycin
The study concluded that S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis were the
.dominant causative agent of bacterial meningitis on children
