BACTERIAL MENINGITIS IN URBAN AND RURAL TENNESSEE1

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Abstract
The incidence of bacterial meningitis was studied over a nine-year period in two defined Tennessee populations, one urban and the other rural. The three most common pathogens were Neisseria meningitidis. Hemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniaein that order. Less common pathogens accounted for 13% of all cases. The risk of contracting meningitis was found to be greater in the urban than in the rural area. Males had higher rates than females, and except for N. meningitidis, the rates were greater among blacks than among whites. The case fatality ratio was greatest for S. pneumoniae. Less common pathogens were responsible for most of the cases and the very high death rate among infants. Data from the urban area suggested an inverse association between meningitis incidence and median income of census tract of residence.

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