[Contributions of experimental models to the physiopathology and treatment of bacterial meningitis].

Abstract

Access to the cerebrospinal fluid, which is the only objective reflection of the essential parametres, is very limited. Investigators have long tried to design an animal model. Presently, the experimental model of the newborn rat is most often used for studying pathogenic factors in haematogenous meningitis. In contrast, the rabbit model is more adapted to therapeutic investigation The main advances have been therapeutic and pathophysiologic. Good examples are the identification of optimum antibiotic levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, and the demonstration of the responsibility of mediators produced by the host in triggering the inflammation. The principle of corticosteroid treatment before induction of bacterial lysis by antibiotics in Haemophilus meningitis is a result of such work.

• Authors: J M Decazes
• Journal: La Revue du praticien (Rev Prat) Vol. 44 Issue 16 Pg. 2152-5 (Oct 15 1994) ISSN: 0035-2640 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Apports des modèles expérimentaux à la physiopathologie et à la thérapeutique des méningites bactériennes.
• PMID: 7984913 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Therapy, Combination (cerebrospinal fluid, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Meningitis, Bacterial (cerebrospinal fluid, drug therapy, physiopathology)