Can infants develop meningitis in the absence of bacteremia in the first ninety days of life? A retrospective chart review

Abstract
The overall incidence of meningitis in infants 0-90 days is low; however, it remains a serious cause of morbidity and mortality among affected patients. It is standard of care to perform lumbar punctures as part of the work-up of fever in the first four weeks of life and sick-looking babies up to the age of 90 days. This particular procedure is often refused by parents, and physicians are left to predict the possibility of meningitis based on blood culture results. The aim of this study is to determine whether it would be safe to rule out meningitis based on a negative blood culture in this age group.