Medical Therapy
Pharmacotherapy
Relatively Penicillin-Resistant Streptococci, MIC 0.2–0.5 µg/ml
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Preferred Regimen
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▸ Adult:Aqueous crystalline penicillin G sodium 24 million U/24 h IV either continuously or in 4–6 equally divided doses X 4 Wks ▸ Pediatrics:Aqueous crystalline penicillin G sodium 300 000 U/24 h IV in 4–6 equally divided doses X 4 Wks OR ▸Adult:Ceftriaxone 2 g/24 h IV/IM in 1 dose ▸Pediatrics:Ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg per 24 h IV/IM in 1 dose
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AND
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▸ Adult:Gentamicin 3 mg/kg I.M. or I.V. daily in divided doses q. 8 hr X 2 Wks ▸ Pediatrics: Gentamicin 3 mg/kg per 24 h IV/IM in 1 dose or 3 equally divided doses X 2 Wks
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Relatively Penicillin-Resistant Streptococci, MIC > 0.5 µg/ml, consider Enterococcal regimen
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Preferred Regimen
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▸ Adult:Aqueous crystalline penicillin G sodium 24 million U/24 h IV either continuously or in 4–6 equally divided doses X 4 Wks
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AND
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▸ Adult:Gentamicin 3 mg/kg I.M. or I.V. daily in divided doses q. 8 hr X 2 Wks
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Unable to tolerate Aqueous crystalline penicillin G sodium or Ceftriaxone
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Preferred Regimen
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▸ Adult: Vancomycin 30 mg/kg per 24 h IV in 2 equally divided doses not to exceed 2 g/24 h, unless serum concentrations are inappropriately low
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▸ Pediatrics: Vancomycin 40 mg/kg 24 h in 2 or 3 equally divided doses X 4 Wks
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Newborn, Age <1 Week
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Preferred Regimen
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▸ Ampicillin 50 mg/kg IV q8h
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AND
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▸ Cefotaxime 100—150 mg/kg/day IV q8—12h
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Alternative Regimen
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▸ Ampicillin 50 mg/kg IV q8h
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AND
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▸ Gentamicin 2.5 mg/kg IV q12h
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Newborn, Age 1—4 Weeks
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Preferred Regimen
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▸ Ampicillin 200 mg/kg/day IV q6—8h
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AND
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▸ Cefotaxime 150—200 mg/kg/day IV q6—8h
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Alternative Regimen
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▸ Ampicillin 200 mg/kg/day IV q6—8h
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AND
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▸ Gentamicin 2.5 mg/kg IV q8h OR ▸Tobramycin 2.5 mg/kg IV q8h OR ▸ Amikacin 10 mg/kg IV q8h
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Infant and Children†
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Preferred Regimen
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▸ Vancomycin 15 mg/kg IV q6h to achieve serum trough concentrations of 15–20 μg/mL
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AND
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▸ Cefotaxime 225—300 mg/kg/day IV q6–8h OR ▸Ceftriaxone 80—100 mg/kg/day IV q12–24h
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†Add Ampicillin 2 g IV q4h (50 mg/kg IV q6h for children) if meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenesis also suspected.
Adapted from Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis. Lancet. 2012;380(9854):1693-702.[1]
Empiric Treatment
- Do not wait for the results of the CT scan and the lumbar puncture; empiric treatment should be started as soon as possible.
- Blood cultures should be drawn before starting the antibiotic therapy, and then the antibiotic treatment should be changed once the blood culture results are out.
- Empiric antibiotic treatment should be started within 30 minutes after the patient presentation.
- In case of high suspicion of pneumococcal meningitis in adult patients, 0.15 mg/kg IV Q6H dexomethasone should be administered for 2 to 4 days.
- The first dose of dexomethasone is given along with or 20 minutes prior to starting the antibiotics treatment.