Bacterial Meningitis
If bacterial meningitis is suspected several tests sound be done before beginning treatment. A blood sample should be taken and a complete blood count (CBC) should be performed and a lumbar puncture should also be performed as soon as possible.
Laboratory findings
The white blood cell count (WBC) should be 5,000-10,000 /mm3. Critical values associated WBC are 30,000 /mm3. Variables that may increase white blood cell count include: Physical activity and stress, final months of pregnancy and/or labor and patients who have had a splenectomy. Drugs that may increase white blood cell count include: adrenaline, allopurinol, aspirin, chloroform, epinephrine, heparin, quinine, steroids, and triamterene. Inversely drugs that may cause decreased WBC …show more content…
The correct treatment varies based on age and some predisposing features. All therapies are antibiotic treatments because this is a very serious disease and treatment should begin immediately. Treatments for relief of symptoms can include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-convulsant agents but it should be noted that the therapies will not cure the infection and antibiotics should always be the foundation of bacterial meningitis treatment.
Antibiotic treatment would be the most effective at resolving the infection. Based on the patients age, if the they are between 0-4 weeks old the recommended treatment would be ampicillin plus either aminoglycoside or cefotaxime. If the patient is between 1 month-50 years old a treatment of Vancomycin plus cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. If the patient is greater than 50 years of age a treatment of vancomycin plus ampicillin plus ceftriaxone or cefotaxime plus vancomycin is recommended. Predisposing features and treatments can include impaired cellular immunity for which the treatment would consist of vancomycin, ampicillin, and either cefepime or meropenem. For a case of recurrent meningitis the recommended treatment is vancomycin and either cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. In the case of a basilar skull fracture treatment would include vancomycin and cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. For cases of head trauma, neurosurgery, or …show more content…
Aspirin can be dosed at 650 to 1000 mg for adults orally every 4 hours as needed; maximum 4 g/day. Ibuprofen can be doses at 200 to 800 mg for adults orally every 6 to 8 hours as needed; maximum 3.2 g/day and 5 to 10 mg/kg for pediatrics orally every 6 to 8 hours as needed; maximum, lesser of 40 mg/kg/day or 2.4
Laboratory findings
The white blood cell count (WBC) should be 5,000-10,000 /mm3. Critical values associated WBC are 30,000 /mm3. Variables that may increase white blood cell count include: Physical activity and stress, final months of pregnancy and/or labor and patients who have had a splenectomy. Drugs that may increase white blood cell count include: adrenaline, allopurinol, aspirin, chloroform, epinephrine, heparin, quinine, steroids, and triamterene. Inversely drugs that may cause decreased WBC …show more content…
The correct treatment varies based on age and some predisposing features. All therapies are antibiotic treatments because this is a very serious disease and treatment should begin immediately. Treatments for relief of symptoms can include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-convulsant agents but it should be noted that the therapies will not cure the infection and antibiotics should always be the foundation of bacterial meningitis treatment.
Antibiotic treatment would be the most effective at resolving the infection. Based on the patients age, if the they are between 0-4 weeks old the recommended treatment would be ampicillin plus either aminoglycoside or cefotaxime. If the patient is between 1 month-50 years old a treatment of Vancomycin plus cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. If the patient is greater than 50 years of age a treatment of vancomycin plus ampicillin plus ceftriaxone or cefotaxime plus vancomycin is recommended. Predisposing features and treatments can include impaired cellular immunity for which the treatment would consist of vancomycin, ampicillin, and either cefepime or meropenem. For a case of recurrent meningitis the recommended treatment is vancomycin and either cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. In the case of a basilar skull fracture treatment would include vancomycin and cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. For cases of head trauma, neurosurgery, or …show more content…
Aspirin can be dosed at 650 to 1000 mg for adults orally every 4 hours as needed; maximum 4 g/day. Ibuprofen can be doses at 200 to 800 mg for adults orally every 6 to 8 hours as needed; maximum 3.2 g/day and 5 to 10 mg/kg for pediatrics orally every 6 to 8 hours as needed; maximum, lesser of 40 mg/kg/day or 2.4