Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for bacterial meningitis

Ann Intern Med. 1984 Jun;100(6):881-90. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-100-6-881.

Abstract

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has excellent microbiologic activity against most pathogens that produce meningitis; both components of this drug have high penetration into tissues, including the cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical experience shows that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be beneficial in the treatment of gram-negative bacillary meningitis caused by organisms only moderately susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins (Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens) or resistant to these antibiotic agents (Pseudomonas cepacia, Acinetobacter). The success of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of four patients with Staphylococcus aureus and two patients with Listeria monocytogenes meningitis shows that this drug may also be useful in treating infrequent types of gram-positive meningitis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Combinations / metabolism
  • Drug Combinations / pharmacology
  • Drug Combinations / therapeutic use
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Meningitis / drug therapy*
  • Meningitis / microbiology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Sulfamethoxazole / metabolism
  • Sulfamethoxazole / pharmacology
  • Sulfamethoxazole / therapeutic use*
  • Trimethoprim / metabolism
  • Trimethoprim / pharmacology
  • Trimethoprim / therapeutic use*
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Trimethoprim
  • Sulfamethoxazole