title: Outcome of 8-hour dosing intervals with beta-lactam antibiotics in adult acute bacterial meningitis.
abstract: The outcome of dosing with beta-lactam antibiotics at 8-h intervals for adult patients with community-acquired acute bacterial meningitis was retrospectively analysed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 80 medical records were identified for a 6-y period from 1999 to 2004. The most common pathogens noted were Streptococcus pneumoniae (47.5%), Neiseria meningitidis (12.5%), and Listeria monocytogenes (5.0%). Other bacteria were diagnosed in 16.3% of all episodes, but the bacteriological aetiology remained unknown in 18.8%. 79 episodes of bacterial meningitis were treated with beta-lactam antibiotics at 8-h dosing intervals. The mortality rate in these patients was 6.3%, with an incidence of permanent neurological deficiencies of 24.1%. Our study shows that a low mortality rate can be achieved using beta-lactam antibiotics at longer dosing intervals than usually recommended by international guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. magnus.brink@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hagberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams