Identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis: single-center experience

BackgroundIntracranial complications of bacterial meningitis can arise at any stage and may necessitate neurosurgical intervention. This study evaluates clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings predictive of surgical need in these cases.MethodsBetween 2013 and 2023, 52 pediatric patients with seve...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Merve Boyraz, Servet Yüce, Abdulrahman Özel, Mehmet Tolgahan Örmeci, Süleyman Akkaya, Şeyma Köksal Atiş, Edin Botan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1631570/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849430753429946368
author Merve Boyraz
Servet Yüce
Abdulrahman Özel
Mehmet Tolgahan Örmeci
Süleyman Akkaya
Şeyma Köksal Atiş
Edin Botan
author_facet Merve Boyraz
Servet Yüce
Abdulrahman Özel
Mehmet Tolgahan Örmeci
Süleyman Akkaya
Şeyma Köksal Atiş
Edin Botan
author_sort Merve Boyraz
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundIntracranial complications of bacterial meningitis can arise at any stage and may necessitate neurosurgical intervention. This study evaluates clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings predictive of surgical need in these cases.MethodsBetween 2013 and 2023, 52 pediatric patients with severe neurological symptoms due to bacterial meningitis were admitted to PICU at Van Training and Research Hospital. Patients were classified into two groups: those with intracranial complications (Group 1, n = 36) and those without (Group 2, n = 16). Group 1 was further divided into those requiring surgery (Group 1B, n = 9) and those not (Group 1A, n = 27). Statistical analyses were conducted.ResultsAmong 52 patients (67.3% male, mean age 76.7 ± 72.0 months), 36 (69.2%) developed intracranial complications, and 9 (17.3%) required surgery. CRP levels were significantly higher in Group 1B (226 mg/dl) than in Group 1A (63 mg/dl) (p < 0.001). Significant differences were also found in CSF protein/glucose ratio (p = 0.011) and CSF glucose levels (p = 0.049). Subdural empyema (SDE) developed in 25 cases, with single-area involvement significantly more frequent in surgical cases (77.8% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.012). ROC analysis was performed for CSF protein/glucose, CSF glucose, and serum CRP values.ConclusionCRP >150 mg/dl, CSF glucose <6.75 mg/dl, and protein/glucose ratio >18.9 indicate high surgical risk. MRI is recommended for localization, with early neurosurgical consultation and multidisciplinary management for cases with single-area empyema.
format Article
id doaj-art-579cfc208ad64f648537ce9199d5f84e
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-2360
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-579cfc208ad64f648537ce9199d5f84e2025-08-20T03:27:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-07-011310.3389/fped.2025.16315701631570Identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis: single-center experienceMerve Boyraz0Servet Yüce1Abdulrahman Özel2Mehmet Tolgahan Örmeci3Süleyman Akkaya4Şeyma Köksal Atiş5Edin Botan6Department of Pediatrics, Van Training and Research Hospital, Van, TürkiyeDepartment of Public Health, Şırnak Provincial Health Directorate, Şırnak, TürkiyeDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, TC Health Sciences University, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, TürkiyeDepartment of Radiology, Van Training and Research Hospital, Van, TürkiyeDepartment of Neurosurgery, Van Training and Research Hospital, Van, TürkiyeDepartment of Pediatrics, Yozgat City Hospital, Yozgat, TürkiyeDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Van Training and Research Hospital, Van, TürkiyeBackgroundIntracranial complications of bacterial meningitis can arise at any stage and may necessitate neurosurgical intervention. This study evaluates clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings predictive of surgical need in these cases.MethodsBetween 2013 and 2023, 52 pediatric patients with severe neurological symptoms due to bacterial meningitis were admitted to PICU at Van Training and Research Hospital. Patients were classified into two groups: those with intracranial complications (Group 1, n = 36) and those without (Group 2, n = 16). Group 1 was further divided into those requiring surgery (Group 1B, n = 9) and those not (Group 1A, n = 27). Statistical analyses were conducted.ResultsAmong 52 patients (67.3% male, mean age 76.7 ± 72.0 months), 36 (69.2%) developed intracranial complications, and 9 (17.3%) required surgery. CRP levels were significantly higher in Group 1B (226 mg/dl) than in Group 1A (63 mg/dl) (p < 0.001). Significant differences were also found in CSF protein/glucose ratio (p = 0.011) and CSF glucose levels (p = 0.049). Subdural empyema (SDE) developed in 25 cases, with single-area involvement significantly more frequent in surgical cases (77.8% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.012). ROC analysis was performed for CSF protein/glucose, CSF glucose, and serum CRP values.ConclusionCRP >150 mg/dl, CSF glucose <6.75 mg/dl, and protein/glucose ratio >18.9 indicate high surgical risk. MRI is recommended for localization, with early neurosurgical consultation and multidisciplinary management for cases with single-area empyema.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1631570/fullmeningitissurgical interventionempyemaintracranial complications (ICC)cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
spellingShingle Merve Boyraz
Servet Yüce
Abdulrahman Özel
Mehmet Tolgahan Örmeci
Süleyman Akkaya
Şeyma Köksal Atiş
Edin Botan
Identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis: single-center experience
Frontiers in Pediatrics
meningitis
surgical intervention
empyema
intracranial complications (ICC)
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
title Identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis: single-center experience
title_full Identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis: single-center experience
title_fullStr Identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis: single-center experience
title_full_unstemmed Identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis: single-center experience
title_short Identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis: single-center experience
title_sort identifying the need for surgical intervention in pediatric bacterial meningitis single center experience
topic meningitis
surgical intervention
empyema
intracranial complications (ICC)
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1631570/full
work_keys_str_mv AT merveboyraz identifyingtheneedforsurgicalinterventioninpediatricbacterialmeningitissinglecenterexperience
AT servetyuce identifyingtheneedforsurgicalinterventioninpediatricbacterialmeningitissinglecenterexperience
AT abdulrahmanozel identifyingtheneedforsurgicalinterventioninpediatricbacterialmeningitissinglecenterexperience
AT mehmettolgahanormeci identifyingtheneedforsurgicalinterventioninpediatricbacterialmeningitissinglecenterexperience
AT suleymanakkaya identifyingtheneedforsurgicalinterventioninpediatricbacterialmeningitissinglecenterexperience
AT seymakoksalatis identifyingtheneedforsurgicalinterventioninpediatricbacterialmeningitissinglecenterexperience
AT edinbotan identifyingtheneedforsurgicalinterventioninpediatricbacterialmeningitissinglecenterexperience