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Cefotaxime treatment of gram-negative enteric meningitis in infants and children

R F Jacobs1

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.

Drugs
|January 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Cefotaxime effectively treated Gram-negative enteric bacillary meningitis in infants and children, showing a 94.4% survival rate. This antibiotic demonstrated safety and efficacy, making it a potential first-choice treatment for neonatal meningitis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Gram-negative enteric bacillary meningitis is a severe infection in infants.
  • Neonatal meningitis requires prompt and effective antibiotic treatment.
  • Cefotaxime is a third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cefotaxime in treating Gram-negative enteric bacillary meningitis in infants and children.
  • To determine the survival rate and complication rate associated with cefotaxime treatment.
  • To assess the microbiological response to cefotaxime therapy.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 18 infants and children (1 week to 3 months) with Gram-negative enteric bacillary meningitis received cefotaxime at 200 mg/kg/day.
  • Clinical outcomes, including survival and complications, were monitored.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid cultures were performed at 24 hours to assess treatment response.

Main Results:

  • 17 out of 18 patients (94.4%) survived the infection.
  • A complication rate of 23.5% (4/17 survivors) was observed.
  • All patients achieved sterile cerebrospinal fluid cultures within 24 hours of treatment initiation.

Conclusions:

  • Cefotaxime is a safe and effective treatment for Gram-negative enteric bacillary meningitis in infants and children.
  • The drug demonstrates a high survival rate and rapid microbiological clearance.
  • Cefotaxime should be considered a potential drug of choice for neonatal meningitis caused by susceptible Gram-negative organisms.

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