Intravenous chloramphenicol in the treatment of meningitis due to hemophilus influenzae (type B)

Abstract

Summary The administration of chlormaphenicol by mouth or by rectum has been demonstrated by other authors to represent a highly effective therapy for meningitis due to H. influenzae . The oral or rectal administration of any therapeutic agent to an acutely ill patient offers several disadvantages. In the treatment of meningitis, the rapid administration of effective therapy is desirable, and it is preferable to overcome the disadvantages of refusal, slow absorption, or vomiting of the medication. We present six cases of meningitis due to H. influenzae which were treated successfully in a manner eliminating these disadvantages by using intravenous chloramphenicol until such time as the clinical condition of the patients justified the administration of oral chloramphenicol.