Meningitis, defined as inflammation of the meninges caused by different pathogens, is a serious infection associated with high morbidity and mortality. It occurs more commonly in the neonatal period than in any other age group. Neonatal meningitis is a devastating infection that occurs more commonly in neonates than in any other age group, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate epidemiology, treatment and prognosis of neonatal meningitis in a large-scale retrospective multicenter cohort study.

The main objectives of this study were to assess the incidence, temporal trend, risk factors, causative organisms, and short term outcomes of neonatal meningitis in a large national cohort of newborn infants admitted to Turkey NICUs.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject has a positive cerebrospinal fluid culture/PCR of bacterial pathogen.
• Subject has a positive blood culture of bacterial pathogen and counts of white blood cells in cerebrospinal fluid ≥20 /mm3.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Major congenital anomalies
• Cultures positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) were excluded as possible contaminants, if not clinically and laboratory compatible with meningitis.

In this study,

1. Lumbar puncture performed due to suspected meningitis and

2. CSF laboratory findings are consistent with meningitis and

3. Positivity in CSF culture and/or CSF PCR

4. Neonates hospitalized between 1 January 2014 and 31 May 2019 will be included in the study.

   • The list of all cases diagnosed as on Neonatal Meningitis with growth in CSF culture and / or causative agent by CSF PCR will be obtained from the hospital's database.
   • Term infants will be included in the study until 1 month and preterm infants will be adjusted until the first month.