title: Community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults.
abstract: Despite the availability of effective antibiotics, vaccination programmes and skilled acute-care facilities, there is still a significant mortality and morbidity from bacterial meningitis. Neurologists are often called on to "rule out bacterial meningitis", which can be difficult with the history and physical examination alone. In this review the authors will discuss the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of acute community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults, focussing particularly on the management of patients with neurological complications, and stressing the importance of adjunctive dexamethasone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ewout S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Schut
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Gans
authors.forename: Diederik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van de Beek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone