Bacterial meningitis 1940–79

Autor: G. Sangster, J. A. Gray, J.McC. Murdoch
Rok vydání: 1982
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Infection. 5:245-255
ISSN: 0163-4453
DOI: 10.1016/s0163-4453(82)92810-9
Popis: Summary The treatment of 1871 episodes of bacterial meningitis (excluding leptospiral meningitis) affecting 1855 patients in the Infectious Diseases Unit of the City Hospital, Edinburgh, over the 40-year period 1940–79 has been reviewed. There was a rapid reduction in mortality in the commoner forms of bacterial meningitis after sulphonamides were introduced and a further improvement following the introduction of penicillin and other antibiotics. Benzylpenicillin alone has given excellent results in meningococcal infections. Of the eight fatalities due to meningococcal infection in the past 20 years, seven were due to fulminant meningococcaemia. Likewise, benzylpenicillin alone has been valuable for pneumococcal meningitis, although it results in a lower cure rate than for meningococcal disease, especially in the very young and those over 55 years of age. Chloramphenicol alone has been the most effective drug for Haemophilus influenzae meningitis, especially since ampicillin resistance is increasing. No deaths from H. influenzae meningitis have occurred since 1943 and there have been few sequelae. Outside the neonatal period, a single antibacterial agent is advocated for most forms of bacterial meningitis, except tuberculous, with the use of corticosteroids and other supporting measures only when indicated.
Databáze: OpenAIRE