Persistent pleocytosis in bacterial meningitis.

Persistent pleocytosis of greater than 60 white blood cells/mm3 was commonly seen in children adequately treated for bacterial meningitis. It occurred in 13 of 21 (62%) children with Hemophilus influenzae meningitis and in 2 of 9 (22%) with pneumococcal meningitis. Pleocytosis alone cannot be used as an indication of prolonging therapy; significance of persistent pleocytosis is not known.