Incidence of meningitis secondary to suppurative otitis media in adults

Aim: Meningitis is the commonest intracranial complication of suppurative otitis media, and carries the risk of death and life-changing morbidity. This study aimed to estimate the risk of an adult in the UK developing otogenic meningitis. Methods: Adults hospitalised with meningitis in Bristol from 1997 to 2002 were identified retrospectively. Cases confirmed by positive blood culture or cerebrospinal fluid investigation were studied. A case was classified as otogenic if there was coexistent evidence of ear infection. Results: Eighty-seven cases of meningitis were analysed. The overall mortality rate was 5.7 per cent. Acute and chronic suppurative otitis media accounted for 13 and three cases, respectively. The adult population of Bristol at the midpoint of the study was 635 976. Conclusion: In this study, the age-adjusted incidence of otogenic meningitis was 0.42 per 100 000 per year.