Acinetobacter meningitis - a diagnostic pitfall. A report of 3 cases.

Three fatal cases of meningitis caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratus are reported, 1 in a premature infant who was being artificially ventilated and 2 in adults who had had neurosurgical operations. The microscopic resemblance of this organism to Neisseria meningitidis is high-lighted and the problems of antimicrobial therapy are discussed.