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Bacterial Meningitis

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Neurointensive Care

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Abstract

Bacterial meningitis remains a devastating neurological emergency that if not promptly treated can lead to case fatality. Not only is bacterial meningitis challenging to the infected patient, certain pathogens (Neisseria meningitidis) threaten the safety of close contacts. Although frequently not presenting in the typical form, clinical symptoms, signs and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are still the main diagnostic tools for this disease. Early administration of empirical intravenous antibiotics capable of penetrating the blood–brain barrier remain the cornerstone therapy along with adjuvant corticosteroids which tend to have favorable effects on long-term neurological outcome. In addition, early attention to the ABCs of resuscitation, adequate fluid administration and ICP control are essential in the treatment course of these patients.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Kuwait

      Yasser B. Abulhasan MBChB, FRCPC

    2. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait, Kuwait

      Yasser B. Abulhasan MBChB, FRCPC

    3. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

      Pravin Amin$ MD, FCCM

    Authors
    1. Yasser B. Abulhasan MBChB, FRCPC
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    2. Pravin Amin$ MD, FCCM
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Yasser B. Abulhasan MBChB, FRCPC .

    Editor information

    Editors and Affiliations

    1. Neurological Intensive Care Unit, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

      Katja E. Wartenberg

    2. Department of Critical Care, Medinah National Hospital, Medinah Munnawarah, Saudi Arabia

      Khalid Shukri

    3. Department of Neurology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA

      Tamer Abdelhak

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    © 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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    Abulhasan, Y.B., Amin$, P. (2015). Bacterial Meningitis. In: Wartenberg, K., Shukri, K., Abdelhak, T. (eds) Neurointensive Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17293-4_12

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17293-4_12

    • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

    • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-17292-7

    • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-17293-4

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