Most common bacterial pathogens for acute meningitis in neonates and children?
Neonatal
- Group B beta-hemolytic streptococci
- Escherichia coli
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
Childhood
- Haemophilus influenzae type B
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Neisseria meningitides
While vaccination has largely eliminated H. influenzae type B, nontypable H. influenzae is still seen. Worldwide these three bacteria are responsible for approximately 90% of acute bacterial meningitis in childhood.