Influence of dexamethasone on efficacy of ceftriaxone and vancomycin therapy in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.
Using a rabbit model of meningitis, we sought to determine whether concomitant use of dexamethasone affects the penetration and efficacy of ceftriaxone or vancomycin in cerebrospinal fluid. Rabbits were inoculated with a penicillin-sensitive strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae and treated with ceftriaxone or vancomycin with or without dexamethasone. In the ceftriaxone-treated groups, no statistically significant differences were seen between the group treated with dexamethasone and that without dexamethasone; however, in the vancomycin-treated groups we found statistically significant lower cerebrospinal fluid vancomycin levels at 2 h in the dexamethasone-treated rabbits and differences in bacterial killing.
Cabellos
C
C
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ciutat Sanitària i Universitària de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain.
Martinez-Lacasa
J
J
Martos
A
A
Tubau
F
F
Fernández
A
A
Viladrich
P F
PF
Gudiol
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011817:Rabbits; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D014640:Vancomycin; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D003907:Dexamethasone