Carbenicillin in treatment of meningoventriculitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The penetration into the ventricular fluid of carbenicillin administered intravenously and the bactericidal CSF activity against the infecting pathogen were measured duing therapy of three cases of meningo-ventriculitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In two patients, the carbenicillin CSF levels ranged from 2 to 10.5 mg/l, the MBC for the infecting strain of Ps. aeruginosa being 100 mg/l. In the thrid patient, the carbenicillin level ranged from 15 to 60 mg/l, exceeding the MBC for the offending pathogen (25 mg/l) during the first treatment days. Carbenicillin did not substantially contribute to the CSF killing activity, which was mostly related to concomitant intraventricular administration of gentamicin. It is concluded that the use of an aminoglycoside remains mandatory in the treatment of meningitis due to Ps. aeruginosa until an effective and safer alternative is available.