Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Bacterial meningitis is a serious pediatric emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To determine the association between delay in antibiotic administration and clinical outcomes in children with suspected bacterial meningitis.
Methodology: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the department of Paediatrics, University of Child Health Sciences, The Children's Hospital Lahore, from January 2025 to June 2025. A total of 185 children aged 1 month to 12 years with suspected bacterial meningitis were included using non-probability consecutive sampling.
Results: Out of 185 patients, 102 (55.1%) received antibiotics within 1 hour, while 83 (44.9%) had delayed antibiotic administration. Delayed antibiotics were significantly associated with poor outcome (41.0% vs. 18.6%, p=0.001), PICU admission (42.2% vs. 21.6%, p=0.003), neurological complications (32.5% vs. 14.7%, p=0.004), and mortality (16.9% vs. 6.9%, p=0.031).
Conclusion: Delayed antibiotic administration was significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes in children with suspected bacterial meningitis. Early empirical antibiotic therapy within the first hour is essential to reduce complications and mortality.