The pharmacokinetics and bacteriological efficacy of cefoperazone, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, and moxalactam were evaluated in the experimental rabbit meningitis model of Haemophilus influenzae type b or Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The cerebrospinal fluid penetration of these beta-lactam antibiotics was from 3 to 14% and was greater in Haemophilus-infected that in pneumococcus-infected animals. With the exception of moxalactam, the antibacterial activity in cerebrospinal fluid and change in concentration of bacteria during therapy with the test drugs were comparable to those of penicillin G in pneumococcal infection. In animals infected with H. influenzae, cefoperazone, moxalactam, and ceftriaxone were as effective as chloramphenicol in reducing the bacterial counts in cerebrospinal fluid. Moxalactam and ceftriaxone produced the largest cerebrospinal fluid bactericidal titers against this beta-lactamase-producing strain of Haemophilus. On the basis of these data, it was concluded that ceftriaxone and cefoperazone were effective against both pathogens in this meningitis model, whereas moxalactam was effective against only Haemophilus, and cefuroxime was effective against only S. pneumoniae.