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bacterial meningitis
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Bacterial meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges resulting in high mortality and morbidity throughout the world (1).
- it is a medical, neurologic, and neurosurgical emergency that needs a multidisciplinary approach (2)
- detected early, it is potentially treatable, but even with optimal intervention there is a mortality of 10 or 20%.
With the emergence of conjugated vaccines, the burden of bacterial meningitis has reduced dramatically in children and as a result community-acquired bacterial meningitis has become a disease that affects more adults than children (1).
The causative agent of bacterial meningitis varies according to the age of the patient and predisposing factors (1)
Reference:
- (1) van de Beek D et al. ESCMID guideline: diagnosis and treatment of acute bacterial meningitis. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2016;22 Suppl 3:S37-62.
- (2) van de Beek D, et al. Community-Acquired Bacterial Meningitis in Adults. N Engl J Med 2006;354:44
- (3) NICE (June 2010). Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia Management of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in children and young people younger than 16 years in primary and secondary care
Last edited 06/2018 and last reviewed 05/2019
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