Meningococcemia medical therapy: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 18:03, 18 September 2017

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]; Ammu Susheela, M.D. [4]; Alejandro Lemor, M.D. [5]

Overview

Meningococcemia is a medical emergency and effective antibiotics should be administered promptly to patients suspected of having meningococcal disease. Multiple antimicrobial agents, including penicillins, are effective against N. meningitidis. Additional therapy may be needed, such as breathing support, fluid resuscitation, and wound care.

Medical Therapy

Meningococcemia is a medical emergency. Patients with this type of infection are often admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital, where they are closely monitored.
The patient may be placed in respiratory isolation for the first 24 hours to help prevent the spread of the infection to others.
Meningococcal disease can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics.
It is important that treatment be started as soon as possible. If meningococcal disease is suspected, antibiotics are given right away. Antibiotic treatment should reduce the risk of dying, but sometimes the infection has caused too much damage to the body for antibiotics to prevent death or serious long-term problems.
Even with antibiotic treatment, people die in about 10-15% of cases. About 11-19% of survivors will have long-term disabilities, such as loss of limb(s), deafness, nervous system problems, or brain damage.
Depending on how serious the infection is, other treatments may also be necessary. These can include such things as breathing support, medications to treat low blood pressure, and wound care for parts of the body with damaged skin.^[1]

Antibiotic Regimen

For the empirical therapy of meningitis, click here

▸ Click on the following categories to expand treatment regimens.^[2]^[3]

N. meningitidis

▸ Penicillin MIC <0.1 μg/mL

▸ Penicillin MIC ≥0.1 μg/mL

Penicillin MIC <0.1 μg/mL
Preferred Regimen
▸ Penicillin G 4 MU IV q4h OR ▸ Ampicillin 2 g IV q4h
Alternative Regimen
▸ Cefotaxime 2 g IV q4—6h OR ▸ Ceftriaxone 2 g IV q12h OR ▸ Chloramphenicol 1—1.5 g IV q6h

Penicillin MIC ≥0.1 μg/mL
Preferred Regimen
▸ Cefotaxime 2 g IV q4—6h OR ▸ Ceftriaxone 2 g IV q12h
Alternative Regimen
▸ Cefepime 2 g IV q8h OR ▸ Chloramphenicol 1—1.5 g IV q6h OR ▸ Moxifloxacin 400 mg IV q24h OR ▸ Meropenem 2 g IV q8h

The duration of therapy should be 7 days. However, the duration of antimicrobial therapy should be individualized in accordance with patient's clinical response.
Evidences for beneficial effects of dexamethasone are variable. In some studies, adjunctive use of dexamethasone for bacterial meningitis in selected groups are associated with an improved survival or prognosis.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9] However, other studies fail to demonstrate a substantial reduction of death or neurological disability.^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]
Dexamethasone should not be given to patients who have already received animicrobial therapy because it is unlikely to improve clinical outcome.^[2]

References

↑ "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)".
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Tunkel AR, Hartman BJ, Kaplan SL, Kaufman BA, Roos KL, Scheld WM et al. (2004) Practice guidelines for the management of bacterial meningitis. Clin Infect Dis 39 (9):1267-84. DOI:10.1086/425368 PMID: [1]
↑ van de Beek, D.; Brouwer, MC.; Thwaites, GE.; Tunkel, AR. (2012). "Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis". Lancet. 380 (9854): 1693–702. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61186-6. PMID 23141618. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Lebel, MH.; Freij, BJ.; Syrogiannopoulos, GA.; Chrane, DF.; Hoyt, MJ.; Stewart, SM.; Kennard, BD.; Olsen, KD.; McCracken, GH. (1988). "Dexamethasone therapy for bacterial meningitis. Results of two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials". N Engl J Med. 319 (15): 964–71. doi:10.1056/NEJM198810133191502. PMID 3047581. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Odio, CM.; Faingezicht, I.; Paris, M.; Nassar, M.; Baltodano, A.; Rogers, J.; Sáez-Llorens, X.; Olsen, KD.; McCracken, GH. (1991). "The beneficial effects of early dexamethasone administration in infants and children with bacterial meningitis". N Engl J Med. 324 (22): 1525–31. doi:10.1056/NEJM199105303242201. PMID 2027357. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Thwaites, GE.; Nguyen, DB.; Nguyen, HD.; Hoang, TQ.; Do, TT.; Nguyen, TC.; Nguyen, QH.; Nguyen, TT.; Nguyen, NH. (2004). "Dexamethasone for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis in adolescents and adults". N Engl J Med. 351 (17): 1741–51. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040573. PMID 15496623. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Brouwer, MC.; Heckenberg, SG.; de Gans, J.; Spanjaard, L.; Reitsma, JB.; van de Beek, D. (2010). "Nationwide implementation of adjunctive dexamethasone therapy for pneumococcal meningitis". Neurology. 75 (17): 1533–9. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181f96297. PMID 20881273. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Fritz, D.; Brouwer, MC.; van de Beek, D. (2012). "Dexamethasone and long-term survival in bacterial meningitis". Neurology. 79 (22): 2177–9. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31827595f7. PMID 23152589. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Peltola, H.; Roine, I.; Fernández, J.; Zavala, I.; Ayala, SG.; Mata, AG.; Arbo, A.; Bologna, R.; Miño, G. (2007). "Adjuvant glycerol and/or dexamethasone to improve the outcomes of childhood bacterial meningitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial". Clin Infect Dis. 45 (10): 1277–86. doi:10.1086/522534. PMID 17968821. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ van de Beek, D.; Farrar, JJ.; de Gans, J.; Mai, NT.; Molyneux, EM.; Peltola, H.; Peto, TE.; Roine, I.; Scarborough, M. (2010). "Adjunctive dexamethasone in bacterial meningitis: a meta-analysis of individual patient data". Lancet Neurol. 9 (3): 254–63. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(10)70023-5. PMID 20138011. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Peltola, H.; Roine, I.; Fernández, J.; González Mata, A.; Zavala, I.; Gonzalez Ayala, S.; Arbo, A.; Bologna, R.; Goyo, J. (2010). "Hearing impairment in childhood bacterial meningitis is little relieved by dexamethasone or glycerol". Pediatrics. 125 (1): e1–8. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0395. PMID 20008417. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Nguyen, TH.; Tran, TH.; Thwaites, G.; Ly, VC.; Dinh, XS.; Ho Dang, TN.; Dang, QT.; Nguyen, DP.; Nguyen, HP. (2007). "Dexamethasone in Vietnamese adolescents and adults with bacterial meningitis". N Engl J Med. 357 (24): 2431–40. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa070852. PMID 18077808. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Molyneux, EM.; Walsh, AL.; Forsyth, H.; Tembo, M.; Mwenechanya, J.; Kayira, K.; Bwanaisa, L.; Njobvu, A.; Rogerson, S. (2002). "Dexamethasone treatment in childhood bacterial meningitis in Malawi: a randomised controlled trial". Lancet. 360 (9328): 211–8. PMID 12133656. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[CDC-1] "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)".

[pmid15494903-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Tunkel AR, Hartman BJ, Kaplan SL, Kaufman BA, Roos KL, Scheld WM et al. (2004) Practice guidelines for the management of bacterial meningitis. Clin Infect Dis 39 (9):1267-84. DOI:10.1086/425368 PMID: [1]

[van_de_Beek-2012-3] van de Beek, D.; Brouwer, MC.; Thwaites, GE.; Tunkel, AR. (2012). "Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis". Lancet. 380 (9854): 1693–702. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61186-6. PMID 23141618. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Lebel-1988-4] Lebel, MH.; Freij, BJ.; Syrogiannopoulos, GA.; Chrane, DF.; Hoyt, MJ.; Stewart, SM.; Kennard, BD.; Olsen, KD.; McCracken, GH. (1988). "Dexamethasone therapy for bacterial meningitis. Results of two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials". N Engl J Med. 319 (15): 964–71. doi:10.1056/NEJM198810133191502. PMID 3047581. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Odio-1991-5] Odio, CM.; Faingezicht, I.; Paris, M.; Nassar, M.; Baltodano, A.; Rogers, J.; Sáez-Llorens, X.; Olsen, KD.; McCracken, GH. (1991). "The beneficial effects of early dexamethasone administration in infants and children with bacterial meningitis". N Engl J Med. 324 (22): 1525–31. doi:10.1056/NEJM199105303242201. PMID 2027357. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Thwaites-2004-6] Thwaites, GE.; Nguyen, DB.; Nguyen, HD.; Hoang, TQ.; Do, TT.; Nguyen, TC.; Nguyen, QH.; Nguyen, TT.; Nguyen, NH. (2004). "Dexamethasone for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis in adolescents and adults". N Engl J Med. 351 (17): 1741–51. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040573. PMID 15496623. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Brouwer-2010-7] Brouwer, MC.; Heckenberg, SG.; de Gans, J.; Spanjaard, L.; Reitsma, JB.; van de Beek, D. (2010). "Nationwide implementation of adjunctive dexamethasone therapy for pneumococcal meningitis". Neurology. 75 (17): 1533–9. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181f96297. PMID 20881273. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Fritz-2012-8] Fritz, D.; Brouwer, MC.; van de Beek, D. (2012). "Dexamethasone and long-term survival in bacterial meningitis". Neurology. 79 (22): 2177–9. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31827595f7. PMID 23152589. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Peltola-2007-9] Peltola, H.; Roine, I.; Fernández, J.; Zavala, I.; Ayala, SG.; Mata, AG.; Arbo, A.; Bologna, R.; Miño, G. (2007). "Adjuvant glycerol and/or dexamethasone to improve the outcomes of childhood bacterial meningitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial". Clin Infect Dis. 45 (10): 1277–86. doi:10.1086/522534. PMID 17968821. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[van_de_Beek-2010-10] van de Beek, D.; Farrar, JJ.; de Gans, J.; Mai, NT.; Molyneux, EM.; Peltola, H.; Peto, TE.; Roine, I.; Scarborough, M. (2010). "Adjunctive dexamethasone in bacterial meningitis: a meta-analysis of individual patient data". Lancet Neurol. 9 (3): 254–63. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(10)70023-5. PMID 20138011. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Peltola-2010-11] Peltola, H.; Roine, I.; Fernández, J.; González Mata, A.; Zavala, I.; Gonzalez Ayala, S.; Arbo, A.; Bologna, R.; Goyo, J. (2010). "Hearing impairment in childhood bacterial meningitis is little relieved by dexamethasone or glycerol". Pediatrics. 125 (1): e1–8. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0395. PMID 20008417. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Nguyen-2007-12] Nguyen, TH.; Tran, TH.; Thwaites, G.; Ly, VC.; Dinh, XS.; Ho Dang, TN.; Dang, QT.; Nguyen, DP.; Nguyen, HP. (2007). "Dexamethasone in Vietnamese adolescents and adults with bacterial meningitis". N Engl J Med. 357 (24): 2431–40. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa070852. PMID 18077808. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Molyneux-2002-13] Molyneux, EM.; Walsh, AL.; Forsyth, H.; Tembo, M.; Mwenechanya, J.; Kayira, K.; Bwanaisa, L.; Njobvu, A.; Rogerson, S. (2002). "Dexamethasone treatment in childhood bacterial meningitis in Malawi: a randomised controlled trial". Lancet. 360 (9328): 211–8. PMID 12133656. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 __NOTOC__
 {{Meningococcemia}}
-{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:''' {{CZ}}; {{Ammu}}
+{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:''' {{CZ}}; {{Ammu}}; {{AL}}
 ==Overview==
-Meningococcemia is a medical emergency. Breathing support, [[fluid]] resucitation, [[antibiotics]] like [[cephalosporin]] and [[wound care]] are the major aspects of treatment.
+Meningococcemia is a medical emergency and effective antibiotics should be administered promptly to patients suspected of having meningococcal disease. Multiple antimicrobial agents, including [[penicillins]], are effective against [[N. meningitidis]]. Additional therapy may be needed, such as breathing support, [[fluid]] resuscitation, and wound care.
 ==Medical Therapy==
-Meningococcemia is a medical emergency. Persons with this type of infection are often admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital, where they are closely monitored. The person may be placed in respiratory isolation for the first 24 hours to help prevent the spread of the infection to others.
+*Meningococcemia is a medical emergency. Patients with this type of infection are often admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital, where they are closely monitored.
-Treatments may include:
+*The patient may be placed in respiratory isolation for the first 24 hours to help prevent the spread of the infection to others.
-* [[Antibiotics]] given through a vein (IV), given immediately
-* Breathing support
-* [[Clotting factors]] or [[platelet]] replacement -- if bleeding disorders develop
-* Fluids through a [[vein]] (IV)
-* Medications to treat low [[blood pressure]]
-* Wound care for areas of skin with blood clots.
 *Meningococcal disease can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics.
 *It is important that treatment be started as soon as possible. If meningococcal disease is suspected, antibiotics are given right away. Antibiotic treatment should reduce the risk of dying, but sometimes the infection has caused too much damage to the body for antibiotics to prevent death or serious long-term problems.
-*Even with antibiotic treatment, people die in about 10-15% of cases. About 11-19% of survivors will have long-term disabilities, such as loss of limb(s), deafness, nervous system problems, or brain damage.
+*Even with antibiotic treatment, people die in about 10-15% of cases. About 11-19% of survivors will have long-term disabilities, such as loss of limb(s), [[deafness]], nervous system problems, or brain damage.
-*Depending on how serious the infection is, other treatments may also be necessary. These can include such things as breathing support, medications to treat low blood pressure, and wound care for parts of the body with damaged skin.<ref name=CDC>{{cite web | title = The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)| url=http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/diagnosis-treatment.html}}</ref>
+*Depending on how serious the infection is, other treatments may also be necessary.  These can include such things as breathing support, medications to treat low blood pressure, and wound care for parts of the body with damaged skin.<ref name=CDC>{{cite web | title = The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)| url=http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/diagnosis-treatment.html}}</ref>
-===Pharmacotherapy===
+===Antibiotic Regimen===
+:: '''''For the empirical therapy of meningitis, [[Meningitis medical therapy#Empiric Therapy|click here]]'''''
 <SMALL><font color="#FF4C4C">'''▸ Click on the following categories to expand treatment regimens.'''</font><ref name="pmid15494903">Tunkel AR, Hartman BJ, Kaplan SL, Kaufman BA, Roos KL, Scheld WM et al. (2004) [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=15494903 Practice guidelines for the management of bacterial meningitis.] ''Clin Infect Dis'' 39 (9):1267-84. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/425368 DOI:10.1086/425368] PMID: [http://pubmed.gov/1549490315494903]</ref><ref name="van de Beek-2012">{{Cite journal  | last1 = van de Beek | first1 = D. | last2 = Brouwer | first2 = MC. | last3 = Thwaites | first3 = GE. | last4 = Tunkel | first4 = AR. | title = Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis. | journal = Lancet | volume = 380 | issue = 9854 | pages = 1693-702 | month = Nov | year = 2012 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61186-6 | PMID = 23141618 }}</ref></SMALL>
@@ Line 39: / Line 37: @@
 </font>
 </div>
+| valign=top |
 {| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-table01" style="background: #FFFFFF;"
 | valign=top |
@@ Line 69: / Line 67: @@
 |}
 |}
+|}
 *The duration of therapy should be 7 days. However, the duration of antimicrobial therapy should be individualized in accordance with patient's clinical response.
-* Evidences for beneficial effects of [[dexamethasone]] are variable. In some studies, adjunctive use of dexamethasone for bacterial meningitis in selected groups are associated with an improved survival or prognosis.<ref name="Lebel-1988">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Lebel | first1 = MH. | last2 = Freij | first2 = BJ. | last3 = Syrogiannopoulos | first3 = GA. | last4 = Chrane | first4 = DF. | last5 = Hoyt | first5 = MJ. | last6 = Stewart | first6 = SM. | last7 = Kennard | first7 = BD. | last8 = Olsen | first8 = KD. | last9 = McCracken | first9 = GH. | title = Dexamethasone therapy for bacterial meningitis. Results of two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. | journal = N Engl J Med | volume = 319 | issue = 15 | pages = 964-71 | month = Oct | year = 1988 | doi = 10.1056/NEJM198810133191502 | PMID = 3047581 }}</ref><ref name="Odio-1991">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Odio | first1 = CM. | last2 = Faingezicht | first2 = I. | last3 = Paris | first3 = M. | last4 = Nassar | first4 = M. | last5 = Baltodano | first5 = A. | last6 = Rogers | first6 = J. | last7 = Sáez-Llorens | first7 = X. | last8 = Olsen | first8 = KD. | last9 = McCracken | first9 = GH. | title = The beneficial effects of early dexamethasone administration in infants and children with bacterial meningitis. | journal = N Engl J Med | volume = 324 | issue = 22 | pages = 1525-31 | month = May | year = 1991 | doi = 10.1056/NEJM199105303242201 | PMID = 2027357 }}</ref><ref name="Thwaites-2004">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Thwaites | first1 = GE. | last2 = Nguyen | first2 = DB. | last3 = Nguyen | first3 = HD. | last4 = Hoang | first4 = TQ. | last5 = Do | first5 = TT. | last6 = Nguyen | first6 = TC. | last7 = Nguyen | first7 = QH. | last8 = Nguyen | first8 = TT. | last9 = Nguyen | first9 = NH. | title = Dexamethasone for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis in adolescents and adults. | journal = N Engl J Med | volume = 351 | issue = 17 | pages = 1741-51 | month = Oct | year = 2004 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa040573 | PMID = 15496623 }}</ref><ref name="Brouwer-2010">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Brouwer | first1 = MC. | last2 = Heckenberg | first2 = SG. | last3 = de Gans | first3 = J. | last4 = Spanjaard | first4 = L. | last5 = Reitsma | first5 = JB. | last6 = van de Beek | first6 = D. | title = Nationwide implementation of adjunctive dexamethasone therapy for pneumococcal meningitis. | journal = Neurology | volume = 75 | issue = 17 | pages = 1533-9 | month = Oct | year = 2010 | doi = 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181f96297 | PMID = 20881273 }}</ref><ref name="Fritz-2012">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Fritz | first1 = D. | last2 = Brouwer | first2 = MC. | last3 = van de Beek | first3 = D. | title = Dexamethasone and long-term survival in bacterial meningitis. | journal = Neurology | volume = 79 | issue = 22 | pages = 2177-9 | month = Nov | year = 2012 | doi = 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31827595f7 | PMID = 23152589 }}</ref><ref name="Peltola-2007">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Peltola | first1 = H. | last2 = Roine | first2 = I. | last3 = Fernández | first3 = J. | last4 = Zavala | first4 = I. | last5 = Ayala | first5 = SG. | last6 = Mata | first6 = AG. | last7 = Arbo | first7 = A. | last8 = Bologna | first8 = R. | last9 = Miño | first9 = G. | title = Adjuvant glycerol and/or dexamethasone to improve the outcomes of childhood bacterial meningitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. | journal = Clin Infect Dis | volume = 45 | issue = 10 | pages = 1277-86 | month = Nov | year = 2007 | doi = 10.1086/522534 | PMID = 17968821 }}</ref> However, other studies fail to demonstrate a substantial reduction of death or neurological disability.<ref name="van de Beek-2010">{{Cite journal  | last1 = van de Beek | first1 = D. | last2 = Farrar | first2 = JJ. | last3 = de Gans | first3 = J. | last4 = Mai | first4 = NT. | last5 = Molyneux | first5 = EM. | last6 = Peltola | first6 = H. | last7 = Peto | first7 = TE. | last8 = Roine | first8 = I. | last9 = Scarborough | first9 = M. | title = Adjunctive dexamethasone in bacterial meningitis: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. | journal = Lancet Neurol | volume = 9 | issue = 3 | pages = 254-63 | month = Mar | year = 2010 | doi = 10.1016/S1474-4422(10)70023-5 | PMID = 20138011 }}</ref><ref name="Peltola-2010">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Peltola | first1 = H. | last2 = Roine | first2 = I. | last3 = Fernández | first3 = J. | last4 = González Mata | first4 = A. | last5 = Zavala | first5 = I. | last6 = Gonzalez Ayala | first6 = S. | last7 = Arbo | first7 = A. | last8 = Bologna | first8 = R. | last9 = Goyo | first9 = J. | title = Hearing impairment in childhood bacterial meningitis is little relieved by dexamethasone or glycerol. | journal = Pediatrics | volume = 125 | issue = 1 | pages = e1-8 | month = Jan | year = 2010 | doi = 10.1542/peds.2009-0395 | PMID = 20008417 }}</ref><ref name="Nguyen-2007">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Nguyen | first1 = TH. | last2 = Tran | first2 = TH. | last3 = Thwaites | first3 = G. | last4 = Ly | first4 = VC. | last5 = Dinh | first5 = XS. | last6 = Ho Dang | first6 = TN. | last7 = Dang | first7 = QT. | last8 = Nguyen | first8 = DP. | last9 = Nguyen | first9 = HP. | title = Dexamethasone in Vietnamese adolescents and adults with bacterial meningitis. | journal = N Engl J Med | volume = 357 | issue = 24 | pages = 2431-40 | month = Dec | year = 2007 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa070852 | PMID = 18077808 }}</ref><ref name="Molyneux-2002">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Molyneux | first1 = EM. | last2 = Walsh | first2 = AL. | last3 = Forsyth | first3 = H. | last4 = Tembo | first4 = M. | last5 = Mwenechanya | first5 = J. | last6 = Kayira | first6 = K. | last7 = Bwanaisa | first7 = L. | last8 = Njobvu | first8 = A. | last9 = Rogerson | first9 = S. | title = Dexamethasone treatment in childhood bacterial meningitis in Malawi: a randomised controlled trial. | journal = Lancet | volume = 360 | issue = 9328 | pages = 211-8 | month = Jul | year = 2002 | doi =  | PMID = 12133656 }}</ref> The occurrence of delayed [[cerebral thrombosis]] with dexamethasone therapy has been reported.<ref name="Schut-2009">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Schut | first1 = ES. | last2 = Brouwer | first2 = MC. | last3 = de Gans | first3 = J. | last4 = Florquin | first4 = S. | last5 = Troost | first5 = D. | last6 = van de Beek | first6 = D. | title = Delayed cerebral thrombosis after initial good recovery from pneumococcal meningitis. | journal = Neurology | volume = 73 | issue = 23 | pages = 1988-95 | month = Dec | year = 2009 | doi = 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181c55d2e | PMID = 19890068 }}</ref>
+* Evidences for beneficial effects of [[dexamethasone]] are variable. In some studies, adjunctive use of dexamethasone for bacterial meningitis in selected groups are associated with an improved survival or prognosis.<ref name="Lebel-1988">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Lebel | first1 = MH. | last2 = Freij | first2 = BJ. | last3 = Syrogiannopoulos | first3 = GA. | last4 = Chrane | first4 = DF. | last5 = Hoyt | first5 = MJ. | last6 = Stewart | first6 = SM. | last7 = Kennard | first7 = BD. | last8 = Olsen | first8 = KD. | last9 = McCracken | first9 = GH. | title = Dexamethasone therapy for bacterial meningitis. Results of two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. | journal = N Engl J Med | volume = 319 | issue = 15 | pages = 964-71 | month = Oct | year = 1988 | doi = 10.1056/NEJM198810133191502 | PMID = 3047581 }}</ref><ref name="Odio-1991">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Odio | first1 = CM. | last2 = Faingezicht | first2 = I. | last3 = Paris | first3 = M. | last4 = Nassar | first4 = M. | last5 = Baltodano | first5 = A. | last6 = Rogers | first6 = J. | last7 = Sáez-Llorens | first7 = X. | last8 = Olsen | first8 = KD. | last9 = McCracken | first9 = GH. | title = The beneficial effects of early dexamethasone administration in infants and children with bacterial meningitis. | journal = N Engl J Med | volume = 324 | issue = 22 | pages = 1525-31 | month = May | year = 1991 | doi = 10.1056/NEJM199105303242201 | PMID = 2027357 }}</ref><ref name="Thwaites-2004">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Thwaites | first1 = GE. | last2 = Nguyen | first2 = DB. | last3 = Nguyen | first3 = HD. | last4 = Hoang | first4 = TQ. 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 * [[Dexamethasone]] should not be given to patients who have already received animicrobial therapy because it is unlikely to improve clinical outcome.<ref name="pmid15494903">Tunkel AR, Hartman BJ, Kaplan SL, Kaufman BA, Roos KL, Scheld WM et al. (2004) [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=15494903 Practice guidelines for the management of bacterial meningitis.] ''Clin Infect Dis'' 39 (9):1267-84. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/425368 DOI:10.1086/425368] PMID: [http://pubmed.gov/15494903 15494903]</ref>
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 [[Category:Emergency medicine]]
 [[Category:Hematology]]
-[[Category:Infectious disease]]
 [[Category:Neurology]]
 [[Category:Pediatrics]]