Salmonella meningitis

Abstract

Three cases of salmonella meningitis in infants were successfully treated with a combination of intraventricular and systemic antibiotics after standard treatment had failed. The intraventricular antibiotics were administered through a subcutaneously implanted ventriculostomy reservoir. The ventricular fluid cultures were positive in all cases. The organisms in the ventricle may periodically reinoculate the subarachnoid space and add to the difficulty in curing salmonella meningitis. Details of the prolonged treatment (29-59 days) and the antibiotic levels obtained are presented. No local reservoir complications were encountered. All three patients were developing normally 10 to 18 months following treatment including two who required a shunt procedure for nonabsorptive hydrocephalus.