Effect of Haemophilus influenzae infection and moxalactam on platelet function in children

In a prospective randomized study, children with Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis received (i) moxalactam or (ii) ampicillin or chloramphenicol. Of 41 children, 6 had prolonged bleeding times (>6 min), and 7 of 9 tested had abnormal platelet aggregation at hospital admission. At the end of therapy, no children in the ampicillin-chloramphenicol group, compared with 5 of 22 moxalactam-treated children (23%) (P = 0.08), had prolonged bleeding times (6.5 to 7.5 min). Our data suggest that H. influenzae meningitis and treatment with moxalactam may each have an effect on platelet function in children.