title: Hemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in infant rabbits. Pathogenesis and therapy.
abstract: A model of human Hemophilus influenzae type b meningitis was developed in infant rabbits infected intranasally. The pathogenesis and course resembled that in human beings; bacteremia was followed by meningitis with a high mortality. Pretreatment of the nasopharyngeal mucosa with 0.5% trypsin or normal saline significantly increased the rate of bacteremia. Death was age related. Intranasal challenge with type f and nontypeable H influenzae was associated with transient bacteremia. Our results suggest that factors on the respiratory tract epithelial cell surface influence colonization and infection with H influenzae type b and confirm the importance of other host and parasite factors. Intravenous aztreonam resulted in a peak CSF concentration that was 6% to 7% of the serum concentration in infected meninges but only 2% to 3% in normal meninges. Aztreonam reduced mortality in established H influenzae type b meningitis from 88% in untreated animals to 9%.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001398:Aztreonam; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006192:Haemophilus Infections; D006207:Half-Life; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D011817:Rabbits; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001398:Aztreonam