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Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of Tuberculous Meningitis

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Abstract

Meningitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and presents particular challenges in terms of diagnosis and management. The nonspecific clinical presentation of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) has led researchers to develop newer molecular methods of making the diagnosis. Several of these methods have excellent sensitivity and specificity, although many are not yet available for clinical use. Successful treatment of TBM requires a combination of antimicrobial agents, with vigilance regarding the possibility of disease caused by resistant organisms. Adjunctive corticosteroids also have a role in treating this potentially devastating infection, as can neurosurgery. With proper therapy, morbidity and mortality can be minimized in patients with TBM.

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Acknowledgment

The author wishes to thank Dr. Allan R. Tunkel for his guidance in writing this review, and for being the inspiration for me to enter the field of Infectious Diseases.

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No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Scott W. Sinner

  2. ID Care, 105 Raider Boulevard, Suite 101, Hillsborough, NJ, 08844, USA

    Scott W. Sinner

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Correspondence to Scott W. Sinner.

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Sinner, S.W. Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of Tuberculous Meningitis. Curr Infect Dis Rep 12, 291–298 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-010-0106-3

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