Management of neonatal meningitis, 1984

Neonatal bacterial meningitis continues to cause substantial mortality and morbidity despite the advent of new antimicrobial agents and of modern intensive care facilities. In Dallas, the case-fatality rate for bacterial meningitis in newborn and young infants is 17% (40 of 231 patients). Three pathogens, Group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes, accounted for 84% of the causative agents. Although new β-lactam antibiotics have been extensively evaluated in experimental meningitis due to these pathogens, there is limited clinical experience from which to judge efficacy and safety. Currently, conventional therapy with ampicillin and an aminoglycoside should be used as initial empirical therapy for neonatal meningitis. Once the pathogen has been identified and the susceptibilities determined, the most appropriate antibiotic or combination of antibiotics can be selected. Latamoxef (moxalactam) and cefotaxime are highly active agents in vitro against Gram-negative enteric bacilli and may prove useful for therapy of meningitis due to those organisms. Additional experience with these compounds is required before they can be recommended for routine use.