Author(s)

Joseph Agossou^1,2*, Julien Didier Adédémy^1,2, Alphonse Noudamadjo^1,2, Mahougnon Rachelle Mariette Houessou^1,2, Pierre Tsawlassou², Rolande Assogba², Godonou Gracien Sagbo³, Honorat Francis Lalya³, Maroufou Jules Alao³, Honoré Bankolé⁴, F. Hounsou⁴, Rock Aristide Sossou⁵, José Biey⁵, Martin Antonio⁶, Claire Oluwalana⁶, Jarju Sheikh⁶, Sikiratou Adéothy-Koumakpaï³, Ayélèrou Simon Akpona^2,7, Blaise Ayivi³

¹Department of Mother and Child, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
²Borgou Regional University Teaching Hospital, Parakou, Benin.
³Department of Mother and Child, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
⁴Ministry of Health of Benin, Cotonou, Benin.
⁵WHO/Benin, Cotonou, Benin.
⁶Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul, Gambia.
⁷Department of Fundamental Sciences and Clinical Biochemistry Teaching & Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin.

Introduction: In the North-Benin, there are three agents causing pediatric purulent meningitis outside the neonatal period. These are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The aim of this research work was to investigate bacteria serotypes that caused childhood purulent meningitis in the pediatric unit of the Borgou à Regional University Teaching Hospital (CHUD-Borgou) located in Parakou (North-Benin). Patients and Methods: Through a prospective and descriptive study centered on children aged 0 to 5 years old suspected of meningitis and hospitalized, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of those children were analyzed at the WHO reference laboratory in Banjul for serotyping by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR). Results: Among the 1396 children hospitalized during that period, 366 were suspected of meningitis and had benefitted from lumbar puncture. Among those 366 suspected cases, 51 cases of purulent meningitis were confirmed after CSF cytobacteriological and biochemical test at the CHUD-Borgou laboratory. Among 51 CSF samples in which purulent meningitis was confirmed, 44 were sent to Banjul. In addition, 310 CSF samples from non-confirmed cases of meningitis were also sent to Banjul. In the whole set of samples sent for real time PCR, 151 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae (42.7%) were found, 5 cases of Neisseria meningitidis (1.4%) and 1 case of Haemophilus influenzae (0.3%) were also encountered. As regards Streptococcus pneumonia, the serotypes encountered were: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7F, 8, 9V, 9V/9A, 9N/9L, 14, 18C, 19A, 23F, 33F as well as non typed and non typable serotypes. As for Neisseria meningitidis, only serogroup A was found in it. For Haemophilus influenzae, only serotype b was identified. Conclusion: Four non vaccine serotypes (8, 9V/9A, 9N/9L and 33F), non typed and non typable serotypes which are not covered by 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 13) were identified. This highlights the need to enhance surveillance of pediatric purulent meningitis and serotyping by RT/PCR of all CSF samples in order to adapt if necessary future new pneumococcal vaccines to circulating non vaccine serotypes.

Purulent Meningitis, Children, Bacteria, Serotypes, Benin

Agossou, J. , Adédémy, J. , Noudamadjo, A. , Houessou, M. , Tsawlassou, P. , Assogba, R. , Sagbo, G. , Lalya, H. , Alao, M. , Bankolé, H. , Hounsou, F. , Sossou, R. , Biey, J. , Antonio, M. , Oluwalana, C. , Sheikh, J. , Adéothy-Koumakpaï, S. , Akpona, A. and Ayivi, B. (2016) Serotypes of Bacteria Encountered in Childhood Purulent Meningitis in Children in Parakou (Benin) in 2011. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 6, 109-119. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2016.61017.