TREATMENT OF HEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE MENINGITIS WITH CHLORAMPHENICOL AND OTHER ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

There is abundant experimental evidence supporting the high degree of action which sulfadiazine, streptomycin and hyperimmune rabbit serum manifest against Hemophilus influenzae.¹ Moreover, it has been shown that combinations of these agents have provided the best results in the treatment of meningitis caused by this gram-negative bacillus. Improvement has been apparent from the point of view of reduction of fatality and morbidity, in addition to lessening the complications resulting from this virulent form of meningitis in children. We have become increasingly interested in single forms of therapy with the newer antibiotics in acute microbial infections for several reasons: 1. Their range of activity is wider, leading to fewer superinfections. 2. They provide a simple therapeutic regimen. 3. The therapeutic action on the causative organism and the striking clinical improvement have been of sufficient degree to render it unnecessary to employ supplemental agents. 4. The problem of bacterial resistance has