Hemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in infant rabbits. Pathogenesis and therapy
San Joaquin, V.H.; Stutman, H.R.; Marks, M.I.
American Journal of Diseases of Children 138(5): 455-458
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-922X PMID: 6538745 Document Number: 240020
A model of human H. influenzae type b meningitis was developed in infant rabbits infected intranasally. The pathogenesis and course resembled that in human beings; bacteremia was followed by meningitis with a high mortality. Pretreatment of the nasopharyngeal mucosa with 0.5% trypsin or normal saline significantly increased the rate of bacteremia. Death was age related. Intranasal challenge with type f and nontypeable H. influenzae was associated with transient bacteremia. Evidently, factors on the respiratory tract epithelial cell surface influenced colonization and infection with H. influenzae type b; the importance of other host and parasite factors was confirmed. I.v. aztreonam resulted in a peak CSF concentration that was 6-7% of the serum concentration in infected meninges but only 2-3% in normal meninges. Aztreonam reduced mortality in established H. influenzae type b meningitis from 88% in untreated animals to 9%.