Patterns and outcome of acute bacterial meningitis in a South Indian tertiary level hospital.

A retrospective analysis of childhood Acute Bacterial Meningitis from a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore revealed a winter clustering of cases and an absence of typical signs and symptoms in 40% of patients, with Staphylococcus aureus (10%) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (9%) being the most common etiological agents. Mortality rate was 8.5%. High priority for the prevention of disease by these pathogens, especially in rural population and during winter, and a high degree of alertness for the detection of atypical disease is warranted.