Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis: prognostic factors

Scand J Infect Dis. 1994;26(1):95-102. doi: 10.3109/00365549409008596.

Abstract

All 42 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis diagnosed between 1981 and 1991 were evaluated. These accounted for 13% of patients with blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid culture-proven bacterial meningitis. There was an increased incidence of K. pneumoniae meningitis from the first 6 years of study (7%) to the last 5 years (16%). K. pneumoniae became increasingly important not only in community-acquired meningitis but also in nosocomial meningitis. 12/13 nosocomial cases were patients who had undergone neurosurgical procedures. The overall mortality rate was 43%. The mortality rate in patients with spontaneous meningitis was higher than that in patients with post-traumatic or postoperative meningitis. Factors that adversely affected mortality were age over 60, diabetes mellitus, and severe neurological deficits on admission. The use of third-generation cephalosporins did not reduce the mortality rate.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cephalosporins / therapeutic use
  • Community-Acquired Infections / drug therapy
  • Community-Acquired Infections / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Klebsiella Infections / complications
  • Klebsiella Infections / drug therapy
  • Klebsiella Infections / epidemiology*
  • Klebsiella Infections / mortality
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / isolation & purification*
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / complications
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / mortality
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Taiwan / epidemiology

Substances

  • Cephalosporins