[Chloramphenicol concentrations in serum and CSF in newborn infants and babies with bacterial meningitis (author's transl)].

Serum and CSF levels of chloramphenicol were determined repeatedly during the course of treatment in 24 premature and full term babies and infants with bacterial meningitis. Variations in chloramphenicol concentrations were caused in the premature babies by a small dose increase or by interaction with other drugs. In the fullterm newborn babies a higher dose could be given but even in these children the increase in concentration after small changes in dosage was marked. Chloramphenicol doses of 100 mg/kg daily could only be given after the sixth or eighth weeks of life. In the mature newborns and in the older babies inaccuracies in the administration of the drug may be a cause of marked variations of serum and CSF concentrations.