Salmonella meningitis and infection with HIV

Patients infected with HIV demonstrate increased susceptibility to serious infections with non-typhoidal salmonellae. However, no cases of salmonella meningitis have been reported in this population. We now report three cases of salmonella meningitis which occurred in a population of 1800 patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex at our hospitals. The incidence of meningitis complicating salmonella infection in our HIV-infected population appears to be much higher than that reported in non-AIDS patients (7.5 versus 0.15%). All had cerebrospinal fluid parameters consistent with bacterial meningitis, and two of three revealed organisms on cerebrospinal fluid Gram stain. Two presented with a fulminant illness and died despite therapy; the third developed a brain abscess associated with a relapse of meningitis. Salmonella meningitis should be considered as a cause of acute neurological deterioration in patients at risk for HIV-related disease. Relapses may occur, and mortality is high.