Abstract
During an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis in Saudi Arabia, oral rifampicin (four doses in two days) was compared with a single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone for prophylaxis in family contacts of patients with meningococcal disease. Pharyngeal samples were taken for culture before and 1 and 2 weeks after administration. Both follow-up cultures indicated that ceftriaxone was significantly more effective. At 1 week the eradication rates for ceftriaxone and rifampicin were 97% and 75%; at 2 weeks they were 97% and 81%, respectively. No serious side-effects were associated with either agent. Ceftriaxone may provide an effective alternative to rifampicin for prophylaxis in meningococcal contacts.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Comparative Study
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Randomized Controlled Trial
MeSH terms
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Administration, Oral
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Carrier State / epidemiology
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Carrier State / prevention & control*
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Ceftriaxone / administration & dosage
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Ceftriaxone / therapeutic use*
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Disease Outbreaks*
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Drug Evaluation
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Injections, Intramuscular
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Male
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Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology
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Meningitis, Meningococcal / prevention & control*
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Meningitis, Meningococcal / transmission
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Neisseria meningitidis / drug effects*
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Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification
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Oropharynx / microbiology*
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Random Allocation
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Recurrence
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Rifampin / administration & dosage
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Rifampin / therapeutic use*
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Saudi Arabia