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Adjunctive therapy in bacterial meningitis--what make sense?
1Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
Infectious Agents and Disease
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Bacterial meningitis treatment can be improved. Adjunctive corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and improve outcomes in children with bacterial meningitis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Bacterial meningitis causes significant morbidity and mortality, even with antibiotic treatment.
- Pathophysiology involves inflammatory cytokines, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inflammation, microvasculate injury, and brain edema.
- Adjunctive corticosteroids show promise in mitigating these effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of adjunctive corticosteroids in bacterial meningitis.
- To discuss current and future therapeutic directions for adjunctive therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental pathophysiology studies.
- Analysis of clinical outcomes in children and adults.
Main Results:
- Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and ameliorate meningitis pathophysiology.
- Adjunctive corticosteroids improve neurologic outcomes in pediatric patients.
Conclusions:
- Adjunctive corticosteroid therapy is beneficial in managing bacterial meningitis.
- Recommendations are provided for pediatric and selected adult patients regarding current and future adjunctive treatments.