Moxalactam therapy for neonatal meningitis due to gram-negative enteric bacilli. A prospective controlled evaluation

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Abstract
Moxalactam and ampicillin sodium therapy were compared with amikacin sulfate and ampicillin therapy for meningitis due to gram-negative enteric bacilli in 63 [human] infants enrolled in the Third Neonatal Meningitis Cooperative Study. The population characteristics and causative organisms were comparable for the 2 treatment groups. Cultures of CSF were positive for .apprx. 3 days in both study groups. Case-fatality rates were 23% and 15% for moxalactam-treated infants and ampicillin- and amikacin-treated infants, respectively. Developmental or neurological abnormalities were found in .apprx. 40% of survivors, and the rates were comparable for both treatment groups. Computed tomograms in 44 infants were interpreted as normal in 13 (30%); hydrocephalus, abscesses and low-density areas were the most frequent abnormalities. Moxalactam is a suitable alternative for treatment of meningitis due to gram-negative enteric bacilli.