Publication date: Jul 29, 2025

Meningitis is a severe and potentially life-threatening infection characterized by inflammation of the leptomeningeal membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features of pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed meningitis admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). This multicenter retrospective study included patients with laboratory-confirmed meningitis who were admitted to eight tertiary PICUs in Istanbul, Turkey, between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024. A total of 66 pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed meningitis requiring intensive care were included. Of these, 39 (59 %) were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and 27 (41 %) with viral meningitis. Among the bacterial meningitis cases, the most frequently identified pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae (41. 0 %), Neisseria meningitidis (15. 4 %), and Haemophilus influenzae (10. 2 %). In the viral group, the most common pathogens were herpes simplex virus type 1 (25. 9 %), enterovirus (22. 2 %), and human herpesvirus 6 (22. 2 %). The bacterial meningitis group had significantly higher white blood cell counts and C-reactive protein levels, and lower cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels compared with the viral meningitis group (p

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