[CSF. changes in partially treated bacterial meningitis (author's transl)]

Review of 102 admissions of children (one month to seven years of age) with bacterial meningitis is presented. 46 of the patients (45%) had been treated previously with one or more antibiotics. Previous treatment made culture of CSF negative in a statistically significant (p less than 0.001) number of cases, mainly in meningococcal meningitis. There were no significant differences in the levels of CSF glucose, proteins and WBC's between both groups. A decrease of the percentage PMN/lymphocytes was found in the CSF of the partially treated group. In 7 out of 102 no more than two CSF pathological findings were present. In 5 or 7 CSF cultures were positive. In the other two there were pathological changes in CSF even with correct dosage of previous antibiotics. In 4 patients with positive cultures and little changes in CSF on admission, LP after 48 hours of correct treatment showed an increase in the alterations of CSF. This could mean that previous low dosage antibiotic treatment should not modify CSF findings enough not to make correct diagnosis.