title: Safety and efficacy of once daily ceftriaxone for the treatment of bacterial meningitis.
abstract: Fifty-seven patients with bacterial meningitis were treated with once daily ceftriaxone. After an initial loading dose of 100 mg/kg, the patients received 80 mg/kg as a single daily dose. Etiologic agents included: Haemophilus influenzae type b, 37 (11 beta-lactamase-positive); Neisseria meningitidis, 11; Streptococcus pneumoniae, 6; Streptococcus pyogenes, 1; Haemophilus influenzae type f, 1; and Group B Streptococcus, 1. All patients showed clinical improvement and all were bacteriologically cured. Satisfactory cerebrospinal fluid bactericidal activity and drug concentrations were seen 24 hours after a dose even in those patients in whom repeat spinal taps were carried out following the last dose of therapy. The drug was well-tolerated and the major adverse effect seen was diarrhea in 20.4% of the patients. The diarrhea was mild and self-limited and did not necessitate discontinuation of the drug although it was frequently associated with alterations in the stool microbiologic flora. Based on this preliminary experience, ceftriaxone, when given in a single daily dose, appears safe and effective in the treatment of bacterial meningitis in nonneonatal infants and children.
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000187:drug effects; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002443:Ceftriaxone