Safety and efficacy of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor as an adjunctive therapy for Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis in non-neutropenic adult patients: a pilot study

Twenty-two non-neutropenic adult patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae men ingitis received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (300-450 mug /day subcutaneously for 6 days) in addition to cefotaxime plus dexamethason e (9-12 g/day for 10 days and 16 mg/day for 3 days iv, respectively). Patie nts recovered without evident sequelae in all cases but one (with bilateral hearing deficit). No adverse event was recorded. Improvement of inflammati on indices in the cerebrospinal fluid was rapid. The most rapid improvement was seen in glucose concentration, which returned to normal ranges within 24-48 h of treatment. In this study G-CSF administration appeared to be saf e and effective; further controlled clinical trials are justified.