Prevalencia de meningitis bacteriana en pacientes pediátricos atendidos en el Hospital del Niño Francisco de Icaza Bustamante, periodo enero de 2016 a diciembre de 2021.

Abstract

Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This condition often leads to high mortality, and 50% of survivors experience permanent neurological sequelae. In this context, the present thesis aimed to determine the prevalence of bacterial meningitis in pediatric patients treated at Francisco Icaza Bustamante Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021. An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, analytic and retrospective study was conducted. A total of 151 patients with suspected meningitis were identified; however, due to incomplete medical records, 48 cases were excluded, resulting in a reduced sample of 108 patients. Subsequently, through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, the diagnosis was confirmed in 53 patients. The research found that bacterial meningitis predominantly affects male patients and the age group of 1 to 11 months, with gram-positive bacteria being more frequent in this group. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus were the most identified bacteria in CSF cultures. The conclusions highlight the importance of improving the availability and quality of medical records for future research and ensuring early and accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, the study suggests further investigation into the potential association between gender, age, and the prevalence of bacterial meningitis, as well as considering antimicrobial resistance when developing treatment guidelines.