ACUTE BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS

Acute meningitis may be caused by a variety of infectious agents. Of g reatest concern, however, is bacterial meningitis, which can be fatal if treatment is delayed. Here, we review the clinical presentation of patients with acute community-acquired bacterial meningits (for exampl e, caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitis or St reptococcus pneumoniae), the approaches to diagnosis, and the early, e mergency management, including empirical antimicrobial regimens