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Guidelines
Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial Meningitis

Treatment Principles

Timing of Testing & Treatment
  • If steroids are to be initiated, must be given BEFORE antibiotics
  • Antibiotics should be started as soon as meningitis is suspected; do not wait for CT or LP results
  • If LP must be delayed, obtain blood cultures and start antibiotic therapy

Obtain ID consult in patients with serious PCN allergy

Tailor therapy once pathogen and susceptibilities known

Empiric Treatment

2-50 years old

>50 years old OR Immunocompromised

Post-Neurosurgery or Penetrating Head Trauma

Infected Shunt

More Information

References
  1. Tunkel AR, Hartman BJ, Kaplan SL, et al. Practice Guidelines for the Management of Bacterial Meningitis. Clin Infect Dis 2004;39:1267.
  2. Bartlett J et al. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide: Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (2nd Ed.). Massachusetts: 2010.