Salmonella Meningitis

SALMONELLAis rarely the cause of meningitis in the adult and is an infrequent clinical consideration. Central nervous system involvement is usually considered a disease of the newborn, or very early childhood,1with three-fourths of the reported cases occurring under the age of 2 years.2In this respect Salmonella shares the peculiar selectivity demonstrated byHemophilus influenzaeB meningitis. Sporadic cases of Salmonella meningitis are mentioned in the older literature. However, no specific reference is noted in recent reports. Salmonella meningitis appears to carry a particularly high mortality. Five deaths occurred in 9 cases reported by MacCready.3Henderson in 1948 recorded a mortality of 87 per cent of 147 patients. Henderson's report included 19 patients treated with sulfonamides and one treated with penicillin without obvious therapeutic effect.4Beene, in 1951, noted a mortality of 83 per cent of 87 cases, some treated with penicillin or tetracycline