RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Staphylococcus aureus meningitis: 26 years' experience at Vancouver General Hospital JF Canadian Medical Association Journal JO CMAJ FD Canadian Medical Association SP 1418 OP 1420 VO 128 IS 12 A1 Roberts, F. J. A1 Smith, J. A. A1 Wagner, K. R. YR 1983 UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/128/12/1418.abstract AB The records of all patients with Staphylococcus aureus meningitis admitted to Vancouver General Hospital between 1956 and 1981 were reviewed. All the patients had clinical and laboratory features of meningitis, and in all cases S. aureus was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid. S. aureus was responsible for 21 (3%) of the 710 cases of acute bacterial meningitis. Therapy with cloxacillin or methicillin, or both, with or without other agents, was successful in 14 of the 21 patients. Three of the 14 patients without ventricular shunts died, 2 with fulminating septicemia and 1 with a postoperative brain abscess treated with cloxacillin. Following shunt removal and antibiotic therapy all seven patients with ventricular shunts survived the infection. Shunt removal may therefore be essential in appropriate cases.