title: Intrathecal gentamicin for refractory gram-positive meningitis.
abstract: The mortality for meningitis due to Staphylococcus aureus or Listeria monocytogenes remains high, ranging from 32% to 77%. We treated a patient with staphylococcal meningitis refractory to methicillin sodium and oxacillin sodium, and a patient with Listeria meningitis refractory to penicillin G potassium and ampicillin sodium; both patients were cured when intrathecal gentamicin sulfate was added to the regimen. The combination of intrathecal gentamicin and a penicillin may be beneficial in refractory staphylococcal or Listeria meningitis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins