Schwartz B, Al-Tobaiqi A, Al-Ruwais A, Fontaine R E, A'ashi J, Hightower A W, Broome C V, Music S I
Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Lancet. 1988 Jun 4;1(8597):1239-42. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)92069-7.
During an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis in Saudi Arabia, oral rifampicin (four doses in two days) was compared with a single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone for prophylaxis in family contacts of patients with meningococcal disease. Pharyngeal samples were taken for culture before and 1 and 2 weeks after administration. Both follow-up cultures indicated that ceftriaxone was significantly more effective. At 1 week the eradication rates for ceftriaxone and rifampicin were 97% and 75%; at 2 weeks they were 97% and 81%, respectively. No serious side-effects were associated with either agent. Ceftriaxone may provide an effective alternative to rifampicin for prophylaxis in meningococcal contacts.
