Emerging pathogen, bacterial profile and sensitivity pattern of acute bacterial meningitis in a Tertiary care centre, New Delhi, India

The irritation or inflammation of the meninges, the covering of brain and spinal cord, is known as meningitis. Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a medical emergency. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has added to this problem. The aim of the present study was to analyze the emerging pathogen, bacterial profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates which were obtained from CSF of patients with ABM in the given area. In our study Gram’s stain provides 35% positivity for pus cells and 15% positivity for bacteria. In our study the culture positivity rate was 22%. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen in adult population. For paediatric population Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii is the most common isolated pathogen. There was no isolation of Haemophilus influenzae and Neissaria meningitides in both group of population. The MRSA is 287(75%) of total isolated Staphylococcus aureus (382) species while 95(25%) were MSSA. In our study we observed that S. aureus and A. bowmanii has been emerged as the most common pathogen causing ABM in all age groups. All Gram negative organisms were showing 91% sensitivity to cefoperazone+salbactum. No vancomycin and chloramphenicol resistance were detected. Stress should be given on the restrained and rationale use of antimicrobials both in and outside the hospital.