Delayed Sterilization of Haemophilus influenzae Type b Meningitis With Twice-Daily Ceftriaxone
- Richard F. Jacobs, MD;
- Mark W. Wright, MD;
- Roy L. Deskin, MD;
- Robert W. Bradsher, MD
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
THE CURRENT recommendation for the treatment of bacterial meningitis in children older than 3 months of age is the combination of ampicillin sodium and chloramphenicol sodium succinate.1,2 Concern about the toxicity of chloramphenicol and the potential resistance of bacteria to both drugs has prompted investigation of other agents. In both of the official American Academy of Pediatrics publications, specific second- and third-generation cephalosporins are recommended as possible alternatives to initial therapy.1,2 The relatively low toxicity, the excellent penetration of these drugs into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and the marked sensitivity (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] and bactericidal titers) of pediatric isolates that cause meningitis have made these single-drug regimens attractive to clinicians.3-6 Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of ceftriaxone in treating bacterial meningitis in children.7-10 We describe an infant with Haemophilus influenzae, type b bacteremia and pneumonia who had a positive CSF culture for H influenzae
Footnotes
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Reprint requests to Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall St, Little Rock, AR 72202 (Dr Jacobs).
