title: Intrathecal antibiotic therapy for neonatal meningitis.
abstract: Twenty infants with neonatal meningitis were treated with systemic and lumbar intrathecal antibiotics upon initial diagnosis. Failure to sterilize the CSF in 2-3 days was associated with evidence of ventriculitis in these infants who were then treated with intraventricular antibiotics. 4 infants died, but only 2 of them may be regarded as treatment failure. It is suggested that many deaths from neonatal meningitis may be preventable by early detection and treatment of ventriculitis with intraventricular antibiotics.
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D000667:Ampicillin; D003023:Cloxacillin