Ciprofloxacin in treatment of nosocomial meningitis in neonates and in infants: Report of 12 cases and review

Twelve cases of neonatal and infant nosocomial meningitis treated with intr avenous ciproflaxcin ii? doses of 10 to 60 mg/kg/day are described. Four ne onates were 21 to 28 days old and eight infants mere 2 to 6 months old. Six presented with Gram-negative meningitis: Escherichia coil (2), Salmonella enteritidis (I), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (1), two with two organisms, a nd (H. influenzae plus Staphylococcus epidermidis, Acinetobacter spp, plus S. epidermidis), and six were attributable to Gram-positive cocci (four S. aureus and two Enterococcus faecalis). Ten cases were cured. In two cases, reversible hydrocephalus appeared that responded to intraventricular punctu res. In seven children, no neurologic sequellae appeared after a 2- to 4-ye ar follow-up. One neonate had relapse of meningitis 3 months later and was ultimately cured, but developed a sequellae of psychomotoric retardation. F ollow-up varied from 27 months to 10 years. Current published ease reports from Medline on quinolone use in meningitis in neonates and infants are rev iewed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.