Despite being so common, the infection rate in Canada is similar to that of meningococcal meningitis. But ominously, the resistance of pneumococci to the antibiotic penicillin is increasing and the choice of antibiotic therapy has become more complex. Escherichia coli Most cases of E. coli bacterial meningitis, due to the K-1 strain of the organism, occur in newborns and the elderly. Those immune systems are immature or compromised are particularly at risk. Most of these bacterial infections occur in newborns, at a rate of about 1 of every 1,000 births.
Infection can occur in the womb, which can cause many complications to the baby.
In the early 1990's, this was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis. Now, with an effective vaccine, the disease is exceedingly rare in Canada. Death is rare with viral meningitis. Since antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, treatments are normally limited to relieving the symptoms of the disease. Brian Hoyle Brian Hoyle is a freelance science writer based in Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada.