Pneumococcal meningitis in a child with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.

A case of pneumococcal meningitis in an infant with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt is reported. There was initial failure of treatment with penicillin and cefotaxime in full dosage. Eradication of infection without shunt removal was eventually achieved by adding rifampicin to the antibiotic regime.