Editorial

Meningitis after cochlear implantation

BMJ 2007; 335 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39380.598380.80 (Published 22 November 2007)
Cite this as: BMJ 2007;335:1058

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  1. Benjamin PC Wei, honorary fellow1,
  2. Graeme M Clark, emeritus professor1,
  3. Stephen J O'Leary, associate professor1,
  4. Robert K Shepherd, director and professor2,
  5. Roy M Robins-Browne, head of department and professor3
  1. 1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
  2. 2Bionic Ear Institute, Melbourne East, VIC 3002, Australia
  3. 3Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
  1. bwei{at}bionicear.org

    The risk is low, and preventive measures can reduce this further

    Since the 1980s, more than 80 000 people have received cochlear implants worldwide.1 These implants are designed to enable people who are severely or profoundly deaf to experience sound and speech. Since 1990, implantation has become standard treatment for people who cannot communicate effectively despite well fitted hearing aids.2 Children who are deaf when they are born can perceive sound and learn to speak if they receive cochlear implants at a young age (ideally under 18 months).3 The use of cochlear implants has been thought to be safe.4 But since 2002 the number …

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