Abstract
The neurotoxic potential of benzylpenicillin administered intravenously as a continuous infusion was studied in rabbits with experimental Escherichia coli meningitis. As controls a group of rabbits was injected with saline into the cisterna magna. The concentrations of benzylpenicillin in serum, CSF and brain tissue fluid were studied at onset of epileptogenic electroencephalographic activity (thirteen rabbits) or convulsions (ten rabbits), with a previously developed method for neurotoxicity studies. E. coli meningitis did not increase the neurotoxicity of benzylpenicillin, despite high concentrations of the drug in both CSF and brain tissue fluid. The intracisternal injection of saline in the control group produced slight pleocytosis in some rabbits indicating some degree of damage of the blood-CSF barrier.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 521-8 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 0305-7453 |
Publication status | Published - Oct 1988 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Brain
- Electroencephalography
- Escherichia coli Infections
- Meningitis
- Penicillin G
- Rabbits
- Journal Article