[Cefotaxime in the treatment of purulent meningitis in children (author's transl)].

Five meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae and 6 meningitis due to Enterobacteria were treated with cefotaxime. The antibiotic was administered at a dose of 150 to 200 mg/kg/day in four 1 hour infusions. The pathogens were eradicated in all patients. Cefotaxime activity was efficient either against resistant pathogens (Haemophilus, Enterobacter) or against organism susceptible to ampicillin. Because cefotaxime is active at low concentration and has a good diffusion in the CSF, it provides a particularly effective treatment in Gram-negative meningitis in children. The initial use of cefotaxime should result in rapid eradication of the pathogen, with consequent improvement in the prognosis.