Time to Death and Its Predictors among Children with Bacterial Meningitis in Southwest Ethiopia, 2022. A Retrospective follow-up study.

Background: Bacterial Meningitis (BM) is an infectious disease characterized by infection and inflammation of the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord. Globally, it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting 2.81 million children each year.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the time to death and its predictors among children with bacterial meningitis in Southwest, Ethiopia.

Methods: Institutional-based retrospective follow-up study design was conducted among 372 paediatric patients with bacterial meningitis. Systematic random sampling was used to select eligible medical records from February 15 to March 15, 2022. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank were computed to estimate and compare failure time. Bivariate and multivariable Cox-regression models were fitted to identify predictors of time to death. A hazard ratio (HR) and adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Result: The overall median time of death was 16 (95% CI, 11.4-17.5) days. Impaired consciousness (AHR=3.88; 95%CI 1.9-7.9), seizure (AHR=2.2; 95%CI 1.06-4.45), and steroid drug use (AHR=4.8; 95%CI 2.03-11.3) were predictors significantly associated with time to death.

Conclusion: The proportion of deaths was high compared to those of the previous studies. Impaired consciousness, seizure and use of steroid were associated with time to death.