Pre-hospital oily chloramphenicol treatment in meningitis outbreaks in low resources environments.

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis is an important cause of death and disability in sub-Saharan Africa and, with pre-treatment in peripheral health centres, the poorest populations could avoid early death, especially if they live far from hospital. During the 2001 meningitis epidemic in south Chad, Moyen Chari sanitary district peripheral health centres were equipped with oily chloramphenicol (CAP) to administer before hospital referral in suspected cases of meningitis. Eighty-six patients treated with CAP in whom the diagnosis was definitively confirmed subsequently in hospital were compared with patients receiving CAP at hospital admission during the same period. A statistically significant reduction in lethality rate, need of second line treatment or adjunctive antibiotics, and mean hospital stay were confirmed in pre-treated patients.

• Authors: Enrico Rino Bregani, Matilde Conti, Caterina Valcarenghi
• Journal: Tropical doctor (Trop Doct) Vol. 47 Issue 4 Pg. 328-331 (Oct 2017) ISSN: 1758-1133 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28587514 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Chloramphenicol

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Antibiotic Prophylaxis
• Chad (epidemiology)
• Child
• Chloramphenicol (therapeutic use)
• Developing Countries
• Disease Outbreaks (statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Health Resources (supply & distribution)
• Humans
• Length of Stay
• Male
• Meningitis, Bacterial (drug therapy, epidemiology)