To the Editor.—
A colleague and I recently reviewed the ten-year experience with Gram-negative meningitis at four hospitals associated with Boston University School of Medicine, between 1968 and 1978. Included in that review is one case of Salmonella meningitis that I saw at Boston City Hospital, in 1978. Kauffman and St Hilaire,1 in their excellent review of Salmonella meningitis, discussed the pathogenesis of the disease. Our case adds a further consideration to their discussion. Salmonella meningitis, as it frequently occurs in meningitis due to other Gram-negative organisms in adults, may be acquired nosocomially.
Report of a Case.—
A 56-year-old alcoholic was admitted to Boston City Hospital, while agitated and confused, with a diagnosis of alcoholic withdrawal syndrome. His temperature on admission was 37.8 °C. There was no evidence of head trauma. Fundi were normal. The neck was supple and Kernig's and Brudzinski's signs were absent. A lumbar puncture was