LOCAL SPECIFIC THERAPY OF EXPERIMENTAL PNEUMOCOCCAL MENINGITIS

Abstract

Extensive acute, fibrinopurulent meningitis may be produced in dogs by intracisternal injection of virulent Type I pneumococci. Given an equal number of virulent infecting organisms, rate of establishment of infection depends upon phase of growth and quantitative growth per cc. of culture, plus an uncontrollable individual factor in the animal. The pathology resembles pneumococcal meningitis in man. Systematic lavage and treatment with optochin-serum mixtures by quadruple puncture resulted in cures of Type I pneumococcal meningitis in dogs; the important factor is to bring all regions of the meninges into frequent contact with the therapeutic agent. Protocols show the necessity of obtaining repeated negative cisternal fluids, both on smear and on culture, before sterilization can be assured. Recovered dogs subjected to meningeal reinfection show some degree of resistance.