A retrospective study of the pattern of bacterial isolates from cases
of suspected meningitis at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospita
ls Complex (OAUTHC), lle-lfe between 1980-87 revealed that 103 (16.7%)
of all the 615 cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) examined were confirmed by
culture. Twelve different micro-organisms were encountered of which si
x predominated: Streptococcus pneumoniae (30.1%), Staphylococcus aureu
s (13.6%), Paracolon and Neisseria meningitidis type C (12.6% each) an
d Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.8%). The incidence of meningitis was highe
r in males than females. The bacterial isolates were comparatively res
istant to ampicillin, and penicillin G on in vitro testing. About 23.1
% of N. meningitidis isolates were surprisingly resistant to penicilli
n G, suggesting caution in employing penicillin G in treating cases of
meningitis caused by this organism.