Mielomeningocele lumbar y neuroinfección en recién nacidos. Aspectos epidemiológicos. Instituto autónomo hospital Universitario de Los Andes Merida - Venezuela

Abstract

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a dysplastic malformation in the sense of a developmental disorder, compatible with life as long as it is the sole alteration, since the risk of a fatal outcome increases when accompanied by other congenital pathologies. The Autonomous Hospital University Institute of the Andes (IAHULA) is a Type IV hospital in Mérida, Venezuela, and serves as a national reference center for the medical-surgical treatment of patients with myelomeningocele. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological aspects and the presence of neuroinfection in newborns with lumbar MMC at IAHULA during the period from January 2018 to January 2021. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted; epidemiological aspects of the mother and the newborn were evaluated, as well as the collection of samples for bacteriological cultures through swabbing of the skin adjacent to the dysplastic defect and the

collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples via puncture of the anterior fontanel. Results: The incidence of MMC was 1.8 per 1,000 live births per year. Among the studied neonates, the male sex predominated (62.5%); furthermore, mothers were exposed to chemical products during pregnancy in 62.5% of cases and primarily presented urinary tract infections in 31.25%. Regarding the germs isolated from both skin swab and cerebrospinal fluid samples, gram-negative germs predominated.