Meningitis, Bacterial

Corey J Costanzo, DO, MPH, MS Reviewed 04/2024

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Bacterial infection of the meninges resulting in inflammation, pain, and systemic illness.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Predominant age: neonates, infants, and elderly. Predominant sex: male = female...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Antecedent upper respiratory infection; fever, headache, vomiting, photophobia, seizures, confusion
Nausea, rigors, sweats, weakness. Elderly: subtle findings including confusion
Infant...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Initiate empiric antibiotic therapy immediately after lumbar puncture. If head CT scan is needed, initiate antibiotic therapy immediately after blood cultures (Abx > CT ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Brainstem auditory—evoked response hearing test for infants before hospital discharge
Vaccinations
- Meningococcal vaccination:
  - All ...

REFERENCES

Pajor MJ, Long B, Koyfman A, et al. High risk and low prevalence diseases: Adult bacterial meningitis. Am J Emerg Med. 2023;65:76-83. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.12.042. PMID: 36592564.

Tunke...

ICD10

G00.9 Bacterial meningitis, unspecified
G00.2 Streptococcal meningitis
G00.8 Other bacterial meningitis
G00.1 Pneumococcal meningitis
G00.3 Staphylococcal meningitis
G00.0 Hemophilus meningitis

SNOMED

CLINICAL PEARLS

Monitor prophylaxis failures and antimicrobial resistance among meningococcal isolates to inform prophylaxis recommendations.
Empiric therapy for suspected meningococcal disease should...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

START 10-DAY FREE TRIAL

Subscribe Now

Forgot password?

Enter an Access Code

GET CME/CE