The spectrum of acute bacterial meningitis in elderly patients
Domingo, Pere (Domingo Pedrol)
(Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Pomar, Virginia (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Benito Hernández, M. Natividad de (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Coll Figa, Pedro (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Date: |
2013 |
Abstract: |
We conducted a prospective, observational study in Barcelona to determine the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcome of elderly patients with acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) compared with younger adults. During 1982-2010, all patients with ABM were prospectively evaluated. There were two groups: I (15-64 years) and II (≥ 65 years). All patients underwent clinical examination on admission and at discharge following a predefined protocol. We evaluated 635 episodes of ABM. The incidence was 4. 03/100,000 (Group I) and 7. 40 /100,000 inhabitants/year (Group II) (RR = 1. 84; 95%CI: 1. 56-2. 17, P < 0. 0001). Elderly patients had co-morbid conditions more frequently (P < 0. 0001) and more frequently lacked fever (P = 0. 0625), neck stiffness (P < 0. 0001) and skin rash (P < 0. 0001), but had an altered level of consciousness more often (P < 0. 0001). The interval admission-start of antibiotic therapy was longer for elderly patients (P < 0. 0001). Meningococcal meningitis was less frequent in elderly patients (P < 0. 0001), whereas listerial (P = 0. 0196), gram-negative bacillary (P = 0. 0065), and meningitis of unknown origin (P = 0. 0076) were more frequent. Elderly patients had a higher number of neurologic (P = 0. 0009) and extra-neurologic complications (P < 0. 0001). The overall mortality ratio was higher in elderly patients (P < 0. 0001). Elderly people are at higher risk of having ABM than younger adults. ABM in the elderly presents with co-morbid conditions, is clinically subtler, has a longer interval admission-antibiotic therapy, and has non-meningococcal etiology. It is associated with an earlier and higher mortality rate than in younger patients. |
Grants: |
Instituto de Salud Carlos III INT12-383
|
Rights: |
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Language: |
Anglès |
Document: |
Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada |
Subject: |
Bacterial meningitis ;
Acute ;
Elderly ;
Streptococcus pneumoniae ;
Listeria monocytogenes ;
Co-morbidities ;
Outcome ;
Complications ;
Post-meningitic sequelae |
Published in: |
BMC Infectious diseases, Vol. 13 (february 2013) , p. 108, ISSN 1471-2334 |
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-108
PMID: 23446215
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Record created 2018-01-27, last modified 2023-11-29