Bacterial Meningitis in Navajo Indians

Abstract

DESPITE THE AVAILABILITY OF ANTIBIOTICS, bacterial meningitis still results in appreciable morbidity and mortality (1,2). Bacterial meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae has actually increased during the antibiotic era (3-5). The incidence of bacterial meningitis varies by age, sex, social class, ethnic origin, and other characteristics in different population groups (5-9). A national study based on death certificates suggested that American Indians are especially susceptible to H. influenzae meningitis (10). To test this observation, we examined the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in one group of American Indians, the Navajo.