Meningococcemia medical therapy


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Acute Pharmacotherapies

 * Cephalosporin CSF penetration: cefuroxime 11-14 %; ceftriaxone 1.5-7%, cefotaxime 4-54%, and ceftazidime 14%.
 * Ceftriaxone CSF half life approximately 5 hours.
 * Potential antibiotics include cephalosporins, penicillin, and chloramphenicol.
 * Therapy may be as brief as 10 to 14 days in fully sensitive organisms.
 * Steroid use particularly in purpura fulminans and adrenal hemorrhage (Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome) is controversial.

Prophylaxis

 * Rifampin 600 mg PO q12h x 4 doses total or alternatively ciprofloxacin 500 mg PO x 1 in patients over 18 who cannot tolerate rifampin