Forty-seven cases of pyogenic meningitis in adults in Korle Bu Hospital, Accra

Forty-seven cases of pyogenic meningitis treated at Korle Bu Hospital are described. Twenty-two were pneumococcal and in the other 25 no organisms were isolated from the C.S.F. The mortality rate was high (62%). Late presentation, extracerebral sepsis and fulminant infection were common. Clinical features, reasons for the high mortality rate, treatment and possible measures to improve the situation are discussed.