[Assessment of psychomotor development in preschool and early preschool children, as a long term outcome of neonatal bacterial meningitis].

Disorder of the cognitive function and psychomotor retardation in the preschool and early preschool children is a result of neonatal bacterial meningitis in most cases. We have investigated 142 patients after neonatal bacterial meningitis and bacterial sepsis. We followed these children during 7 years (1998-2005). The whole contingency was divided into three groups: I group - bacterial meningitis (64 cases), II group - bacterial meningitis and sepsis (56 cases) and III (control) group - 22 patients with bacterial sepsis of different degrees. With the purpose of estimation of the psychomotor development, we have applied: Bayley screening test of infant developmental test (0 -2 y); Denver developmental screening test, and Denver-2 (0-6 y); Raven progressive matrices (5-11 y); Wechsler Intelligence scale for children (6-15 y). We have determined that the results of neonatal bacterial meningitis are predictors of severe long-term outcome of the disease. Analysis of the obtained data enables us to conclude that outcome of neonatal bacterial meningitis and sepsis in combination with bacterial meningitis is more severe than of bacterial sepsis.

[Predictive value of neurological evaluation of newborns].

The correct management of perinatal period, timely recognition and intervention of existing and prospective problems, definition of preventive measures gives us an opportunity to avoid and reduce all possible pathologic conditions, complications and their consequences. The goal of our investigation was the evaluation of neurological assessment of the pre-term and full-term newborn infants using Dubowitz scale and establishment of relations between obtained indices and neurodevelopmental outcome in children of this cohort. It was shown that Dubowitz neurological scale for infants gives an opportunity not only to separate the norm from pathology and detect particular problems of neonatal period, but also to determine contiguous conditions and define risk-factors. The results of our investigation coincide with reference data, which confirms that children of the risk-group more frequently have problems connected with the neurological development.

[Early predictors of neurodevelopmental outcome of neonatal bacterial meningitis].

154 patients, who were hospitalized in M. Iashvili Children's central hospital in 1998-2005 were investigated. In 70 cases the diagnosis was neonatal bacterial meningitis, in 62 cases -- bacterial sepsis and neonatal meningitis and 22 cases patients were in control group with the diagnosis of neonatal bacterial sepsis. From base investigation group -132 patients were divided in two group, in which patients were united by the starting point of disease from the birth: first group included newborns with signs of disease on earlier stage (sings of the disease showed up during 24-72 hours from the birth); second group included newborns with later signs of disease (after 72 hours from the birth). Our conclusion is- outcome of bacterial meningitis depends on the starting point of disease. Meningitis which began earlier than 72 hours of life, characterized by severe prognosis. Mother's chronic infection diseases and brain injury of newborn are predictors of severe complications of neonatal bacterial meningitis. Such complications of bacterial meningitis as are: brain abscess, ventriculitis, neonatal seizures, coma and neutropenia, become predictors of severe latest outcome.