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Managing penicillin resistant pneumococcal meningitis: an international id-iri study

Erdem H, Dogan E, Ankarali H, Dragovac G, Seyman D, Tarakci A, Dalmanoglu E, Kaya-Kalem A et al.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2025

138 participants

Abstract

Penicillin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis (PRPM) is a challenging and fatal infection. We conducted a multicentre international retrospective study to evaluate the clinical features, outcomes, predictors of outcomes antimicrobial efficacy and drug susceptibility in patients with PRPM. The study, conducted through the "Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative" across 33 centers in 11 countries, analyzed PRPM patients treated between 2019 and 2024 using univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 138 patients were included. Of these, 83 (60.1%) were fully cured, 27 (19.6%) died, and 28 (20.3%) survived with sequelae. Mortality was associated with ICU admission (OR 14.886; p = 0.021), mechanical ventilation (OR 7.205; p = 0.049), and vasopressor use (OR 8.983; p = 0.025). Higher CSF leukocyte count (OR 0.854; p = 0.060) and blood leukocyte count (OR 0.283; p = 0.021) were linked to lower mortality risk. Patients who developed sequelae were more likely to require mechanical ventilation (OR 9.354; p = 0.001), experience recurrent meningitis (OR 5.562; p = 0.081), and have lower platelet counts (OR 0.001; p = 0.050), compared to those who fully recovered. Sequelae patients had higher GCS scores (OR 1.365; p = 0.014), more corticosteroid use (OR 5.301; p = 0.061), and less vasopressor use (OR 0.205; p = 0.019) compared to those who died. The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates in our PRSP cohort were: Ceftriaxone (75/134, 55.9%), meropenem…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 138 participants or records.

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