ArticleBMC infectious diseases2020
Retrospective analysis of the etiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes of community-acquired bacterial meningitis in the University Infectious Diseases Centre in Lithuania.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sex differences in bacterial meningitis and associations with socioeconomic indicators: a systematic review and meta-analysis with metaregression.BMJ global health · 2025Pooled it
- Global Case Fatality of Bacterial Meningitis During an 80-Year Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JAMA network open · 2024Pooled it
- An unusual presentation of meningococcal meningitis.American journal of ophthalmology case reports · 2026Article
- Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial meningitis among hospitalized patients at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia: a six-year retrospective study.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2024Article
- Etiology, Clinical Presentation, and Outcomes of Bacterial Meningitis in Adult Patients: A Retrospective Study in Lithuania (2018-2021).Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2024Article
- Risk factors associated with meningitis outbreak in the Upper West Region of Ghana: A matched case-control study.PloS one · 2024Article
- Bacterial meningitis in adults: a retrospective study among 148 patients in an 8-year period in a university hospital, Finland.BMC infectious diseases · 2023Article
- Dynamics of community-acquired meningitis syndrome outbreaks in southern France.Frontiers in microbiology · 2022Article
- Incidence of Vaccine-Preventable Childhood Diseases in the European Union and in the European Free Trade Association Countries.Vaccines · 2021Article
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6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundThe morbidity and mortality in community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) remain substantial, and the etiology, clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes and predictors of poor prognosis must be assessed regularly. The aim of this study was to identify the distribution of etiological agents and their relationship with clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes in this cohort of patients with CABM.
methodsOur retrospective chart review analyzed the causative microorganisms, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, treatment and outcomes of 159 adults with CABM hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Centre of Vilnius University Hospital from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016. A Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score ≤ 3 was defined as unfavorable outcome. Predictors of an unfavorable outcome were identified through logistic regression analysis.
resultsThe median patient age was 36 (IQR 24-56), and 51.6% were male. Microbiologically confirmed causative agents were identified in 80 (50.3%) patients: N. meningitidis in 55 (34.6%) patients with serotype B accounting for 85% of cases, S. pneumoniae in 15 (9.4%), L. monocytogenes in 5 (3.1%) and other in 5 (3.1%). The clinical triad of fever, neck stiffness and a change in mental status was present in 59.1% of patients. Coexisting conditions and comorbidities were similar in all groups stratified by etiology. Initial antimicrobial treatment consisted of penicillin in 78 patients (49.1%) and ceftriaxone in 72 patients (45.3%). The median time in which antibiotic treatment was started was 40 min (IQR 30.0-90.0). The outcome was unfavorable in 15.7% of episodes and death occurred in 5.7% of cases and did not differ according to the causative agent. Risk factors for an unfavorable outcome were age > 65 years, coexisting pneumonia and a platelet count <150x10e9/l.
conclusionsThe most common causative agent of CABM was N. meningitidis, with serotype B clearly dominant. Causative agents did not influence the disease outcome. The strongest risk factors for an unfavorable outcome were older age, pneumonia and a low platelet count. Since the introduction of routine vaccination against meningococcus B for infants in Lithuania in 2018, the national vaccination policy may hopefully contribute to a decrease in the incidence of serogroup B meningococcal disease in the Lithuanian population.
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