IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS) e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 4, Issue 6 Ver. I (Nov. - Dec. 2015), PP 34-38 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/1959-04613438 www.iosrjournals.org 34 | Page Bacteria Isolated From the Cerebrio-Spinal Fluid (Csf) of Suspected Cases of Meningitis In Enugu State, Nigeria 1 Bryan Ogeneh, 2 Cheryl Nwokeoma 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu state, Nigeria. 2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria. Abstract: 742 cerebrio-spinal fluid (CSF) samples were taken from suspected cases of bacterial meningitis at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu state, Nigeria. The patients were of various ages and sexes. The samples were analyzed bacteriologically to determine the various causative bacteria associated with these cases of suspected meningitis. Eleven (1.5%) were positive cases. The main etiological agents detected were Escherichia coli (36.4%), Neisseria meningitides (18.2%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (18.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.2%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.1%). 64% of these cases of bacterial meningitis were children under 2years of age. The susceptibility of the isolates to antibiotics was investigated. All isolates were found to be sensitive to cephalosporins. I. Introduction Nigeria has the highest incidence, morbidity and mortality of meningitis in the West African sub-region (Ojide et al., 2012). Epidemics of meningitis occur annually in the country and in many sub-saharan African countries. In view of the recorded high rates of morbidity and mortality, this study was embarked upon to determine the bacteria associated with meningitis cases found in Enugu state, Nigeria. Enugu state is located in the South East of Nigeria and though it does not lie within the “Meningitis belt”, the meningitis epidemic often spreads to many parts of Nigeria. Neisseria meningitis is not the only etiologic agent responsible for these epidemics. There are other bacteria which are associated with meningitis and which have not been implicated in epidemic outbreaks in Nigeria. Meningitis is an inflammatory disease of the brain and spinal cord (Rosenstein, 2001). It is convenient to classify meningitis topographically as a triad of blindness, deafness and paralysis as well as other serious complications in their wake. Many people who carry bacteria associated with meningitis will never develop the disease. In some people, however, for reasons not fully understood, the bacteria will migrate through the body's outer immune defences (for example, through nasal passages) and into the bloodstream. Bacterial meningitis is not a disease to be taken lightly. It is a degenerative, rapidly progressing disease that can result in death or permanent disability. Acute bacterial meningitis is dangerous and needs to be diagnosed and treated with appropriate antibiotics as quickly as possible. In the past, it was fatal in more than 50 percent of cases. However, with better and early treatment, fatality has dropped between 10 to 14 percent. Nevertheless, about 15 percent of survivors have longterm disabilities, including hearing loss and brain damage. The most common strains of bacteria that cause meningitis are:  Streptococcus pneumoniae (in about 50 percent of bacterial meningitis cases).  Neisseria meningitides (in about 25 percent of bacterial meningitis cases and up to 60 percent in cases that involve children).  Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram positive bacillus that is spread mostly by contaminated foods. Listerial meningitis occurs mostly among the new born, immuno-compromised patients and elderly people (Brouwer et al., 2006). In recent years, common causes of bacterial meningitis have changed because of vaccines that target Haemophilus influenzae and, to a lesser extent, N. meningitides. Previously, these two bacteria were responsible for most bacterial meningitis infections. Haemophilus influenzae is also a important cause of bacterial meningitis. Its incidence rate was very high for children in the 80’s but has declined since the introduction of Hib conjugate vaccines (Pranatharthi, 2013). H. influenzae type b is the most common bacterial cause of bacterial meningitis between the neonatal period and the age of 6. The number of children in the United States who get meningitis from this organism has decreased by about 90 percent (Todar, 2012). Today, S. pneumoniae accounts for about half of all bacterial cases. Other organisms of the maternal birth canal like E. coli, Proteus sp., Klebsiella sp., and infectious flora of the hospital nurseries e.g. Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis dominate