Subdural empyema complicating meningitis in infants: improved prognosis

No deaths occurred among six consecutive cases of subdural empyema complicating meningitis in infants treated between 1968 and 1978 at North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill. Five of the six infants had no neurologic sequelae in follow-up periods ranging from 6 months to 7 years. This contrasts with a mortality rate of 50% in a previously reported series of infants with subdural empyemas treated between 1955 and 1966 at the same hospital. The reasons for improved prognosis include early diagnosis (computed tomography and subdural paracentesis) and adequate surgical drainage during intensive antibiotic therapy.