Initial treatment of Hemophilus influenzae infections in children.

Life-threatening pediatric infections in which H. influenzae is the potential pathogen include meningitis, septic arthritis, cellulitis and epiglottis. Until the pathogen is identified, chloramphenicol should be part of the initial hospital therapy. This agent is effective against ampicillin-susceptible and ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae strains, and it reliably penetrates the central nervous system.