Antibiotic treatment of suspected neonatal meningitis.

Antibiotic treatment of suspected neonatal meningitisNeonatal meningitis remains a life threatening emergency with a mortality of 20-50%; 50% of the survivors sustain major sequelae.1 2 Fortunately the condition is uncommon, the incidence being about 0-4 to 1 per thousand live births.3Early diagnosis and treatment are vital if these figures are to improve.The commonest organisms are still group B strep- tococcus and Escherichia coli, although the range is wide.4Listeria monocytogenes is now the third most common cause in the United Kingdom.Staphylococcus epidermidis is an important pathogen after invasive neurosurgical proce- dures.