Bacterial meningitis: audiological follow‐up – closing the audit cycle

Sensorineural hearing loss is a common sequel of bacterial meningitis in childhood and hearing assessment post‐meningitis is therefore essential. An audit performed of practice in a tertiary centre paediatric unit over 24 months in 1994‐1995 showed an 89 per cent referral and 81 per cent attendance rate for audiological assessment following bacterial meningitis. A repeat retrospective audit was performed over 12 months in 1998‐1999 following the introduction of guidelines and measures to improve education of medical staff and communication between professionals. This achieved a 100 per cent referral and attendance rate in a series of 27 children surviving bacterial meningitis in 1998‐1999, demonstrating the success of the process of the complete audit cycle in improving clinical practice.