HIST 3791 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Pneumococcal Infection, Neisseria Meningitidis, Gram-Negative Bacteria
Document Summary
Steroids may be useful in treating meningitis since many of the unfavourable outcomes are related to inflammation of the subarachnoid space and occur even when the csf has been determined to the sterile (after antibiotics). It"s place in therapy is early (before or with first dose of antibiotics) and in adult patients with acute bacterial meningitis. There was no research into the use of steroids after antibiotic therapy had already been initiated as these patients were excluded from the study. The study did not find any significant risks to this treatment regimen but it"s efficacy in children requires further examination. Although not tested in this study, treatment failure with dexamethasone in combination with vancomycin has been reported in adult patients suffering from bacterial meningitis. Risk factors for meningitis include: age - children and elderly, poor socioeconomic conditions, exposure to cigarette smoke, daycare, exposure and travel. Immune deficiency: recent/concurrent infection (otitis media, sinusitis, mastoiditis, drugs - chemotherapy, transplant, no vaccination.
