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Patient with Suspected Meningitis Age > 56 days — Definitive Therapy Recommendations — Clinical Pathway: Emergency, Inpatient

Suspected Meningitis Age > 56 days Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department, Inpatient and ICU

Definitive Therapy Recommendations for Confirmed Bacterial Meningitis with Known Organisms

Consult Infectious Diseases for all confirmed cases of meningitis. Antibiotics should be tailored according to final antibiotic susceptibilities. Intravenous antibiotics are recommended for the full course of treatment. Carefully selected patients may be eligible for outpatient completion of IV antibiotics, but should be clinically stable, afebrile, and able to receive IV antibiotics in an outpatient setting with close, reliable follow-up.

Organisms and Treatment Length

Organism Treatment Length
Neisseria meningitidis* 5-7 days
Haemophilus influenzae* 7-10 days
Streptococcus pneumoniae 10-14 days
Streptococcus agalactiae
(Group B Streptococcus)
14-21 days
All other organisms Consult ID

*Chemoprophylaxis may be indicated for close contacts or in outbreak situations

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