Salmonella meningitis:: a study of 11 cases at the Ouagadougou teaching hospital (Burkina Faso)

Case study - In Burkina Faso, Salmonella infections are endemic with a typical peak during the warm rainy season (May-October). We report 11 cases of Salmonella meningitis observed at the National Hospital of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Clinical diagnosis was based on examination of patients and CSF after lumbar puncture. CSF cytology and bacteriology were performed and bacterial isolates were identified by their morphology, their culture and biochemical features. An antibiogram by gel diffusion (Kirby Bauer) was made for each isolate. Ten of the I I patients died within 24 h after admission. This study underlines the need for urgent and adequate management of bacterial meningitis considering that other micro-organisms than Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae can be involved. (C) 2002 Editions scientitiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.