Purulent meningitis in the newborn.

Neonatal meningitis is characterized by unusual clinical manifestations caused by unusual organisms (with a marked predominance of gram-negative organisms), a poor prognosis due to the failure of antibiotics to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, and frequent complications (ventriculitis, hydrocephalus, and brain damage). The literature is reviewed and our personal experience described. The clinical and bacteriological findings, the complications and results of various therapeutic regimes, and the factors affecting prognosis are discussed.