Fig. 3

Inflammatory cytokines and bacterial clearance in the CSF during the acute pneumococcal meningitis. Cytokine levels are represented by mean ± 95% confidence interval starting before treatment initiation, 6 h and 24 h after treatment start (representing 18, 24 and 42 hpi) for TNF-α (a), IL-1β (b), IL-6 (c), IL-10 (d) and IFN-γ (e). Six hours after treatment initiation, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly reduced in infected animals receiving the combined adjuvant therapy compared to infected animals with CRO monotherapy. Bacterial titres in the CSF were similar in both treatment groups before starting therapy (at 18 hpi) with a faster bacterial clearance in animals receiving the combined adjuvant therapy (f). Statistical differences were assessed using an unpaired t-test for cytokines and bacterial titre at 18 hpi. For bacterial titre at 24 hpi, a Mann-Whitney test was used as data were not normally distributed