Bacterial meningitis An urgent need for further progress to reduce mortality and morbidity

摘要

Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency requiring prompt recognition and evaluation and urgent institution of appropriate antibacterial therapy. The nature of the causative microorganisms has changed dramatically over time. For example, the introduction and widespread use of the Haemophilus influenzae type b protein-polysaccharide vaccine has reduced the number of cases of H influenzae meningitis in the United States by 94%, and shifted the median age of patients with meningitis from 15 months to 25 years.1 The use of the septa-valent pneumococcal protein-polysaccharide vaccine and of the quadrivalent conjugate vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis will likely have additional significant impact in preventing meningitis#