The impact of dexamethasone on hearing loss in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis, particularly that resulting from Streptococcus pneumoniae, is a common cause of acquired profound sensorineural deafness in children. The pathogenesis of meningogenic hearing loss has been investigated in an experimental rabbit model. In this study significant deafness was documented within the first 15 hours of infection. Initiation of antibiotic therapy at this time diminished the severity of hearing loss in most animals. The addition of dexamethasone to antibiotic therapy prevented the development of profound deafness. These results suggest this model will be useful in developing antiinflammatory strategies to improve the outcome of bacterial meningitis.

• Authors: S M Bhatt, C Cabellos, J B Nadol Jr, C Halpin, A Lauretano, W Z Xu, E Tuomanen
• Journal: The Pediatric infectious disease journal (Pediatr Infect Dis J) Vol. 14 Issue 2 Pg. 93-6 (Feb 1995) ISSN: 0891-3668 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7746714 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Ceftriaxone
• Dexamethasone

Topics

• Animals
• Ceftriaxone (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Dexamethasone (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Evoked Potentials, Auditory
• Female
• Hearing Loss, Sensorineural (drug therapy, etiology, prevention & control)
• Linear Models
• Meningitis, Pneumococcal (complications, drug therapy)
• Rabbits