Adult bacterial meningitis: earlier treatment and improved outcome following guideline revision promoting prompt lumbar puncture.

BACKGROUND: In suspected acute bacterial meningitis (ABM), cerebral computerized tomography (CT) is recommended before lumbar puncture (LP) if mental impairment. Despite guideline emphasis on early treatment, performing CT prior to LP implies a risk of delayed treatment and unfavorable outcome. Therefore, Swedish guidelines were revised in 2009, deleting impaired mental status as a contraindication for LP without prior CT scan. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the guideline revision. METHODS: The Swedish quality registry for community-acquired ABM was analyzed retrospectively. Door-to-antibiotic time and outcome were compared among patients treated 2005-2009 (n=394) and 2010-2012 (n=318). The effect of different LP-CT sequences was analyzed during 2008-2012. RESULTS: Adequate treatment was started 1.2 hours earlier, and significantly more patients were treated <2 hours from admission 2010-2012 than 2005-2009. Compared with CT before LP, immediate LP resulted in 1.6 hours earlier treatment, significant increase in door-to-antibiotic times of <1 and <2 hours, and a favorable outcome. In 2010-2012, mortality was lower (6.9% vs 11.7%) and the risk of sequelae at follow-up decreased (38% vs 49%) in comparison with 2005-2009. Treatment delay resulted in a significantly increased risk for fatal outcome, with a relative increase in mortality of 12.6% per hour of delay. CONCLUSIONS: The deletion of impaired mental status as contraindication for prompt LP and LP without prior CT scan are associated with significantly earlier treatment and a favorable outcome. A revision of current international guidelines should be considered.

Early lumbar puncture in adult bacterial meningitis--rationale for revised guidelines.

Current international guidelines recommend cerebral computerized tomography (CT) before lumbar puncture (LP) in many adults with suspected acute bacterial meningitis (ABM), due to concern about LP-induced cerebral herniation. Despite guideline emphasis on early treatment based on symptoms, performing CT prior to LP implies a risk of delayed ABM treatment, which may be associated with a fatal outcome. Firm evidence for LP-induced herniation in adult ABM is absent and brain CT cannot discard herniation. Thus, the recommendation to perform CT before LP may contribute to an avoidable delay of LP and ABM treatment. The inappropriate use of the diagnostic treatment sequence of brain CT scan, followed by LP, followed by antibiotics and corticosteroids should be avoided in adults with suspected ABM by omitting needless contraindications for LP, thus eliminating an unnecessary fear of immediate LP. Revised Swedish guidelines regarding early LP are presented, and the background documentation and reasons for omitting impaired consciousness, new onset seizures, and immunocompromised state as contraindications to LP are discussed.

[Intracranial pressure targeted treatment in acute bacterial meningitis increased survival]. / Intrakraniell trycksänkande behandling vid akut bakteriell meningit ökade överlevnaden.

To evaluate the efficacy of intracranial pressure (ICP)-targeted treatment, compared to standard intensive care, in adults with community acquired acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) and severely impaired consciousness, a prospectively designed intervention-control comparison study was performed. Included were patients with confirmed ABM and severely impaired mental status on admission. Fifty-two patients, given ICP-targeted treatment at a neuro-intensive care unit, and 53 control cases, treated with conventional intensive care, were included. All patients received intensive care with me-chanical ventilation, sedation, antibiotics and corticosteroids according to current guidelines. ICP-targeted treatment was performed in the intervention group, aiming at ICP 50 mmHg. The mortality was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to controls, 5/52 (10%) versus 16/53 (30%). Furthermore, only 17 patients (32%) in the control group fully recovered, compared to 28 (54%) in the intervention group. Early neuro-intensive care using ICP-targeted therapy reduces mortality and improves the overall outcome in adult patients with ABM and severely impaired mental status on admission.

Neuro-intensive treatment targeting intracranial hypertension improves outcome in severe bacterial meningitis: an intervention-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of early intracranial pressure (ICP)-targeted treatment, compared to standard intensive care, in adults with community acquired acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) and severely impaired consciousness. DESIGN: A prospectively designed intervention-control comparison study of adult cases from September 2004 to January 2012. PATIENTS: Included patients were confirmed ABM-cases, aged 16-75 years, with severely impaired mental status on admission. Fifty-two patients, given ICP-targeted treatment at the neuro-intensive care unit, and 53 control cases, treated with conventional intensive care, were included. All the patients received intensive care with mechanical ventilation, sedation, antibiotics and corticosteroids according to current guidelines. Additional ICP-treatment in the intervention group included cerebrospinal fluid drainage using external ventricular catheters (n = 48), osmotherapy (n = 21), hyperventilation (n = 13), external cooling (n = 9), gram-doses of methylprednisolone (n = 3) and deep barbiturate sedation (n = 2) aiming at ICP <20 mmHg and a cerebral perfusion pressure of >50 mmHg. MEASUREMENTS: The primary endpoint was mortality at two months and secondary endpoint was Glasgow outcome score and hearing ability at follow-up at 2-6 months. OUTCOMES: The mortality was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to controls, 5/52 (10%) versus 16/53 (30%; relative risk reduction 68%; p<0.05). Furthermore, only 17 patients (32%) in the control group fully recovered compared to 28 (54%) in the intervention group (relative risk reduction 40%; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Early neuro-intensive care using ICP-targeted therapy, mainly cerebrospinal fluid drainage, reduces mortality and improves the overall outcome in adult patients with ABM and severely impaired mental status on admission.