[Cefotaxim--an alternative in the treatment of purulent meningitis in children?].

Cefotaxim was administered to ten children with purulent meningitis. All isolated micro-organisms were highly sensitive to it in serial dilution, except for one case, and were quickly removed from blood and CSF by the administration of cefotaxim alone. Blood and CSF concentrations measured in eight children were much above the minimal inhibitory concentration for the particular micro-organism. Thus cefotaxim has a high antibacterial activity and satisfactory CSF passage in purulent meningitis caused by sensitive, especially gram-negative, bacteria and is well suitable for therapy, if penicillins alone or combined are not applicable or effective.