PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF MOXALACTAM THERAPY FOR GRAM-NEGATIVE BACILLARY MENINGITIS

In a prospective evaluation, 20 patients with gram-negative bacillary meningitis were treated with moxalactam, alone or in conjunction with other antibiotics. Of 13 patients who received only moxalactam, 8 recovered, 1 failed to respond and 5 died of causes other than meningitis. Cultures of CSF were negative before death in each instance. Of 20 treated patients, 13 (65%) recovered. Reversible hypoprothrombinemia and bleeding occurred secondary to moxalactam therapy in 1 patient. The mortality from gram-negative bacillary meningitis remains high owing to the incidence of associated underlying disease. Moxalactam brings about bacteriologic control in a large proportion of patients who are infected with highly sensitive gram-negative enteric bacilli.