CEFTRIAXONE VERSUS PENICILLIN-G IN THE SHORT-TERM TREATMENT OF MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS IN ADULTS

Short-term treatment with ceftriaxone 2 g once daily for two days (gro up 1) was compared to treatment with a standard regimen of penicillin G (group 2) for six days in adults with meningococcal meningitis. Thir ty-six patients were allocated in a randomized fashion to a treatment group: 16 to group 1 and 20 to group 2. The clinical and microbiologic al results were comparable in the two treatment groups. In both groups cultures of cerebrospinal fluid were sterile after 24 hours. One pati ent in each group died. In group 1 one case of fulminant meningococcem ia and one case of brain abscess required further antibiotic treatment . It is concluded that short-term treatment with ceftriaxone is feasib le but patients with severe forms of meningitis would not be eligible for treatment with this regimen, and careful follow-up of the patients receiving ceftriaxone is necessary.