High Frequency of Salmonella Species as a Cause of Neonatal Meningitis in Ibadan, Nigeria

Summary 538 cases of bacterial meningitis admitted from January 1964 to May 1969 in all age groups at the U.C.H., Ibadan, were reviewed. The proportion of enterobacterial cases of meningitis admitted to the U.C.H., Ibadan was higher than has been reported from any other centre, the maximum incidence being in the neonatal period. A very large number of these were due to various salmonella species, and 70% of these are currently resistant to the more commonly used antibiotics, including chloramphenicol. This resistance to chloramphenicol is reflected amongst all enterobacteria isolated in Ibadan and poses a considerable problem. At present, over 90% of neonates with enterobacterial meningitis die and this case fatality is maintained in the older age groups in cases where resistant strains are encountered.