Reason for posting: Cochlear implants

are electronic devices that allow sound perception in some people with pro-found sensorineural deafness. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently identified a possible association between cochlear implants and bacterial meningitis in 52 people worldwide.1 The meningitis occurred in children and adults aged 21 months to 72 years and included 12 deaths. The onset of meningitis symptoms ranged from less than 24 hours to more than 5 years af-ter insertion of the implant, and most of the organisms isolated in 14 cases were Streptococcus pneumoniae.1 Vaccina-tion histories against pneumococcus were known for 6 of the individuals, and none had been vaccinated.1 Health Canada has received reports of 3 cases of bacterial meningitis in cochlear implant recipients in Canad