[Importance of intensive therapy in the treatment of purulent meningitis (author's transl)].

In recent years the lethality of purulent meningitis has not fallen significantly in spite of antibiotic therapy. Aspects are indicated which complicate the successful treatment of purulent meningitis, and in addition the problems of artificial respiration, the provocation of cerebro-organic paroxysms by high dose penicillin therapy, the not uncommonly observed hemorrhagic diatheses, disturbances of acid-base balance and the results of neuropathologic and echoencephalographic investigations are discussed. In addition to beginning treatment early and selective antibiotic therapy, intensive medical measures can contribute to an improvement in the prognosis of purulent meningitis.