Bacterial Meningitis Caused by E. coli

Epidemiology by Age Group

The European surveillance studies suggest that E. coli causes 21% of all neonatal meningitis cases, making it the second most common pathogen after Group B Streptococcus, according to the Clinical Microbiology and Infection guidelines 1, 2
Transmission of E. coli meningitis occurs through vertical transmission (mother to child) in early neonatal meningitis or horizontal/nosocomial transmission in late neonatal meningitis, as reported in Clinical Microbiology and Infection 1

E. coli is recognized as a cause of gram-negative bacillary meningitis in adults, though less common than in neonates, with gram stain detecting gram-negative bacilli in approximately 50% of cases when present, as stated by the Clinical Infectious Diseases guidelines 3, 4
Adult cases of E. coli meningitis typically occur in patients with specific risk factors including immunocompromised states, recent neurosurgery, or CNS anatomical abnormalities, according to the Clinical Infectious Diseases guidelines 4