Summary
Forty-six consecutive patients with pneumococcal meningitis were treated with cefotaxime (CTX). Ages ranged from 1–79 years: 29 adults, six adolescents, six children and five infants. Underlying diseases were found in 38 patients (82.6%). Twenty-six patients (56.5%) were admitted in coma. All isolates were sensitive to CTX, with MICs for 12 strains ranging from 0.01 to 0.08 mg/l. CTX was used as single-drug therapy for 12 to 27 days — mean 15 days. The daily dose of CTX was 200 mg/kg, in four or six equal intravenous doses. CTX penetration into the CSF was studied in four patients. 40 patients (87.0%) were cured. The mortality rate was 13.0%. All dead patients had been admitted in coma. The mortality rate in comatose patients was 23.1%. CSF sterilization was obtained within 72 h after starting treatment, mostly (90.7%) in the first 48 h. No serious side-effects were observed. The study proves that CTX is a safe and very successful therapy for pneumococcal meningitis.
Zusammenfassung
46 Patienten mit Pneumokokkenmeningitis, die nacheinander eingewiesen wurden, erhielten eine Therapie mit Cefotaxim (CTX), 29 Erwachsene, sechs Jugendliche, sechs Kinder und fünf Säuglinge. Das Alter der Patienten lag zwischen 1–79 Jahren. Bei 38 Patienten (82,6%) fanden sich prädisponierende Grundkrankheiten. 26 Patienten (56,5%) wurden im Koma eingewiesen. Alle isolierten Erreger waren gegen Cefotaxim empfindlich; die MHK-Werte von 12 Stämmen betrugen 0,01–0,08 mg/l. Cefotaxim wurde als Monotherapie 12–27 Tage lang — im Mittel 15 Tage — verabreicht. Die Cefotaxim-Tagesdosis von 200 mg/kg wurde auf vier bis sechs Einzeldosen verteilt intravenös appliziert. Bei vier Patienten wurde die CTX-Penetration in den Liquor untersucht. 40 Patienten (87,0%) wurden geheilt. Die Mortalität betrug 13%. Alle Patienten, die verstarben, waren im Koma eingeliefert worden. Bei komatösen Patienten betrug die Letalität 23,1%. 72 h nach Beginn der Therapie war der Liquor bei allen Patienten steril, in den meisten Fällen (90,7%) aber bereits nach 48 h. Ernsthafte Nebenwirkungen wurden nicht beobachtet. Die Studie belegt, daß Cefotaxim eine sichere und sehr erfolgreiche Therapie für die Pneumokokkenmeningitis ist.
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Lecour, H., Seara, A., Mota Miranda, A. et al. Cefotaxime in pneumococcal meningitis. Infection 13 (Suppl 1), S73–S75 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644223
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644223