Bacterial meningitis: management
Evidence-based neurology checklist on bacterial meningitis: management: Management guidelines Take blood cultures Perform lumbar puncture (LP) Administer antibiotics within 60 minutes Administer Dexamethasone with or shortly before the 1st dose of antibiotic Report all suspected meningococcal or…
Management guidelines
- Take blood cultures
- Perform lumbar puncture (LP)
- Administer antibiotics within 60 minutes
- Administer Dexamethasone with or shortly before the 1st dose of antibiotic
- Report all suspected meningococcal or Haemophilus influenza meningitis
Indications for head CT before lumbar puncture (LP)
Antibiotic choice
Duration of antibiotic treatment
Contact prophylaxis: for meningococcal meningitis
Vaccination
Emerging investigations
References
- Tunkel AR, Hartman BJ, Kaplan SL, et al. Practice guidelines for the management of bacterial meningitis. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 39:1267-1284.
- Chaudhuri A, Martin PM, Kennedy PGE, et al. EFNS guideline on the management of community-acquired bacterial meningitis: report of an EFNS Task Force on acute bacterial meningitis in older children and adults. Eur J Neurol 2008; 15: 649-659.
- Hasbun R, Abrahams J, Jekel J, Quagliarello VJ. Computed tomography of the head before lumbar puncture in adults with suspected meningitis. N Engl J Med 2001; 345:1727-1733.
- Glimåker M, Lindquist L, Sjölin J. Lumbar puncture in adult bacterial meningitis: time to reconsider guidelines? BMJ 2013; 346:f361.
- Carter E, McGill F. The management of acute meningitis: an update. Clin Med (Lond) 2022; 22:396-400.
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