Bacterial meningitis—a view of the past 90 years
MN Swartz - New England Journal of Medicine, 2004 - Mass Medical Soc
MN Swartz
New England Journal of Medicine, 2004•Mass Medical SocThe history of community-acquired bacterial meningitis arguably represents the best
example of the salutary effect of the introduction of antimicrobial agents. Before the use of
specific antiserums, the outlook for patients with bacterial meningitis was dismal (see
Figure). In the 1920s, 77 of 78 children at Boston Children's Hospital who had Haemophilus
influenzae meningitis died. The prognosis for untreated pneumococcal meningitis was
equally bleak: of 300 patients, all died. In the first decade of the 20th century, untreated …
example of the salutary effect of the introduction of antimicrobial agents. Before the use of
specific antiserums, the outlook for patients with bacterial meningitis was dismal (see
Figure). In the 1920s, 77 of 78 children at Boston Children's Hospital who had Haemophilus
influenzae meningitis died. The prognosis for untreated pneumococcal meningitis was
equally bleak: of 300 patients, all died. In the first decade of the 20th century, untreated …
The history of community-acquired bacterial meningitis arguably represents the best example of the salutary effect of the introduction of antimicrobial agents. Before the use of specific antiserums, the outlook for patients with bacterial meningitis was dismal (see Figure). In the 1920s, 77 of 78 children at Boston Children's Hospital who had Haemophilus influenzae meningitis died. The prognosis for untreated pneumococcal meningitis was equally bleak: of 300 patients, all died. In the first decade of the 20th century, untreated meningococcal meningitis was associated with a mortality rate of 75 to 80 percent.
In 1913, Simon Flexner was the first to report . . .
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