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Hypothermia as an adjunctive treatment for severe bacterial meningitis

J E Irazuzta1, R Pretzlaff, M Rowin

  • 1Division of Critical Care, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. irazuzta@aol.com

Brain Research
|October 18, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Moderate hypothermia applied after antibiotics reduces brain inflammation and intracranial pressure in bacterial meningitis. This treatment improves physiological measures, potentially aiding recovery in severe meningitis cases.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis causes high mortality and severe neurological deficits.
  • Brain injury in meningitis is linked to inflammation and increased intracranial pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if moderate hypothermia mitigates inflammation and intracranial pressure in bacterial meningitis.
  • To assess hypothermia's effects on blood-brain barrier function and cerebral hemodynamics.

Main Methods:

  • A rabbit model of severe Group B streptococcal meningitis was utilized.
  • Evaluated hypothermia's impact on cerebrospinal fluid markers, brain myeloperoxidase activity, intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and brain edema.

Main Results:

  • Hypothermia preserved the cerebrospinal fluid/serum glucose ratio.
  • Reduced cerebrospinal fluid protein, nitric oxide levels, and brain myeloperoxidase activity.
  • Decreased intracranial pressure, improved cerebral perfusion pressure, and reduced cerebral edema.

Conclusions:

  • Moderate hypothermia initiated post-antibiotic therapy shows promise in managing severe bacterial meningitis.
  • Hypothermia improves short-term physiological indicators of brain injury in meningitis.

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