Biomaterial Database

Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in the presence of cerebrospinal fluid shunts. 1988

S Stern, and R Bayston, and R J Hayward

Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, London, UK.

Haemophilus influenzae is an uncommon pathogen in shunted patients and there is uncertainty about optimal management. We report here two cases which were managed differently, with different outcomes. The first case was treated with chloramphenicol and the shunt was not removed. Although there were subsequent episodes of respiratory infection, the outcome was satisfactory. The second case was treated with cefuroxime and the shunt was exteriorized. Re-shunting was followed by relapse and further shunt removal. This and other case reports suggest that in Haemophilus meningitis in shunted patients treatment need not involve shunt removal, but that this is so only if appropriate antimicrobials such as chloramphenicol are used.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008583	Meningitis, Haemophilus	Infections of the nervous system caused by bacteria of the genus HAEMOPHILUS, and marked by prominent inflammation of the MENINGES. HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B is the most common causative organism. The condition primarily affects children under 6 years of age but may occur in adults.	Haemophilus influenzae Meningitis Type B,Hemophilus influenzae Meningitis Type B,Meningitis, Haemophilus influenzae Type F,Meningitis, Haemophilus parainfluenzae,Meningitis, Hemophilus,Meningitis, Hemophilus influenzae Type F,Meningitis, Hemophilus influenzae, Type B,Meninigitis, HiB,Type B Haemophilus influenzae Meningitis,Type B Hemophilus influenzae Meningitis,Haemophilus Meningitides,Haemophilus Meningitis,Haemophilus parainfluenzae Meningitides,Haemophilus parainfluenzae Meningitis,Hemophilus Meningitides,Hemophilus Meningitis,HiB Meninigitis,Meningitides, Haemophilus,Meningitides, Haemophilus parainfluenzae,Meningitides, Hemophilus
D012086	Reoperation	A repeat operation for the same condition in the same patient due to disease progression or recurrence, or as followup to failed previous surgery.	Revision, Joint,Revision, Surgical,Surgery, Repeat,Surgical Revision,Repeat Surgery,Revision Surgery,Joint Revision,Revision Surgeries,Surgery, Revision
D002444	Cefuroxime	Broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic resistant to beta-lactamase. It has been proposed for infections with gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, GONORRHEA, and HAEMOPHILUS.	Cephuroxime,Ketocef,Zinacef
D002557	Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts	Tubes inserted to create communication between a cerebral ventricle and the internal jugular vein. Their emplacement permits draining of cerebrospinal fluid for relief of hydrocephalus or other condition leading to fluid accumulation in the ventricles.	Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt,Shunt, Cerebrospinal Fluid,Shunts, Cerebrospinal Fluid
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002701	Chloramphenicol	An antibiotic first isolated from cultures of Streptomyces venequelae in 1947 but now produced synthetically. It has a relatively simple structure and was the first broad-spectrum antibiotic to be discovered. It acts by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis and is mainly bacteriostatic. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 29th ed, p106)	Cloranfenicol,Kloramfenikol,Levomycetin,Amphenicol,Amphenicols,Chlornitromycin,Chlorocid,Chloromycetin,Detreomycin,Ophthochlor,Syntomycin
D003131	Combined Modality Therapy	The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used.	Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D005260	Female		Females
D006193	Haemophilus influenzae	A species of HAEMOPHILUS found on the mucous membranes of humans and a variety of animals. The species is further divided into biotypes I through VIII.	Bacterium influenzae,Coccobacillus pfeifferi,Haemophilus meningitidis,Hemophilus influenzae,Influenza-bacillus,Mycobacterium influenzae