Cephalosporin therapy for childhood meningitis
Smith, M.A.; Ryan, M.E.
American Family Physician 36(3): 185-192
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-838X PMID: 3498353 Document Number: 289411
Ampicillin and chloramphenicol have been used for initial empiric therapy of childhood meningitis since the mid-1970s. Problems associated with these drugs include the possibility of chloramphenicol-associated aplastic anemia and the existence of Hemophilus influenzae type b resistance to both ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Several second- and third-generation cephalosporins have been shown to be as effective as ampicillin and chloramphenicol in the treatment of childhood meningitis.