title: Gram-negative bacillary meningitis in the adult: review of 39 cases.
abstract: From 1976 through 1984, the period covered in this report, we reviewed our total experience with gram-negative meningitis in adult patients, looking especially at how treatment and mortality had changed. Thirty-nine adults had 45 episodes of gram-negative meningitis. Twenty-five patients had had a dura-arachnoid disruption, 12 a septic episode, and two a bacterial mastoiditis. The overall mortality was 35.9%. Thirteen patients were treated with a full course of intrathecal antibiotics (five or more days) and eight patients with an abbreviated course (one or two doses). The use of chloramphenicol was associated with poor patient outcome, a finding consistent with both experimental and clinical findings of others.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents