Escherichia coli Causing Neonatal Meningitis During 2001–2020: A Study in Eastern China

Figures & data

Table 1 Cases of Neonatal E. coli Meningitis in Different Periods

	2001–2006	2007–2012	2013–2020
Live births	17,263	39,202	66,549
E. coli causing NM	10	24	35
E. coli causing NM born in the study hospital	2	10	15
Incidence of E. coli causing NM born in the study hospital	0.12 /1000	0.26 /1000	0.23/1000

Table 2 Distribution of Pathogens of Neonatal Meningitis in 2001–2006, 2007–2012 and 2013–2020 Were Analyzed by Pearson’s Chi-Squared Test

Pathogens	2001–2006 (n=24)	2007–2012 (n=64)	2013–2020 (n=94)
Gram-positive organisms
GBS	1(4.2%)	11(17.2%)	38(40.4%)*
Enterococcus	4(16.6%)	8(12.5%)	6(6.4%)
Staphylococcus aureus	3(12.5%)	6(9.3%)	3(3.2%)
Other	0(0%)	4(6.3%)	4(4.3%)
Gram-negative organisms
E. coli	10(41.7%)	24(37.5%)	35(37.2%)
Klebsiella	1(4.2%)	2(3.1%)	3(3.2%)
Other	5(20.8%)	9(14.1%)	5(5.3%)

Notes: *χ²=18.532, P < 0.001.

Table 3 General Characteristics of Patients with Neonatal E. coli Meningitis

		2001–2006 (n=10)	2007–2012 (n=24)	2013–2020 (n=35)	P-value
Male gender	42	6 (60.0%)	15 (62.5%)	21 (60.0%)	NS
Gestational age (weeks)		38.2±2.8	38.1±3.5	36.7±3.9	NS
<37 weeks	17	2 (20%)	5 (20.8%)	10(28.2%)	NS
Birth weight (gm)		2850±617g	3010±782g	2986±899g	NS
<2500 gm	18	3 (30.0%)	5 (20.8%)	10 (28.6%)	NS
<1500 gm	5	0	1 (4.2%)	4 (11.4%)	NS
Vaginal delivery	57	10 (100%)	19 (79.2%)	28 (80.0%)	NS
Home delivery	5	3 (30.0%)	2 (8.3%)	0 (0)	0.005*
Fever	62	10 (100%)	22 (91.7%)	30 (85.7%)	NS
Death	10	3 (30%)	3 (12.5%)	4 (11.4%)	NS

Note: *P < 0.05.

Abbreviation: NS, not significant.

Figure 1 Antimicrobial susceptibility of all isolated E. coli in different periods were analyzed by Pearson’s chi-squared test. *P < 0.05. **P < 0.01.

Figure 2 Antimicrobial susceptibility of all isolated E. coli from term and premature infants. There is no significant difference between the two groups.

Figure 3 Antimicrobial susceptibility of all isolated E. coli from EOM and LOM. *P < 0.05.