MENINGITIS CAUSED BY STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE SHOWING HIGH-LEVEL RESISTANCE TO PENICILLIN

A case of meningitis caused by a strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S Pn) showing high level resistance to penicillin is described. The pati ent responded to a combination of high dose penicillin and ceftriaxone . After reviewing the Australian situation and the world literature, w e propose that empiric treatment of SPn meningitis in Australia should consist of high dose penicillin plus a third generation cephalosporin , with appropriate modification once the identification of the organis m and its susceptibilities are confirmed.