[Comparative effectiveness of ampicillin and benzylpenicillin in generalized forms of meningococcal infection].

Two groups of 49 patients each with generalized forms of meningococcal infection were observed. The patients of the 1st group were treated with ampicillin in a dose of 200-400 Units/kg and the patients of the 2nd group were treated with benzylpenicillin in a dose of 200000-300000 Units/kg of the body weight daily. Comparison of the ampicillin and benzylpenicillin liquor levels showed that benzylpenicillin was more persistent during the whole period between the injections. The indices of the patients' recovery in the groups observed did not differ significantly, which provided a conclusion that ampicillin was clinically effective and may be recommended as an independent etiotropic drug for treatment of generalized forms of meningococcal infection.