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Common pathogens causing bacterial meningitis by population group
Name the common pathogens causing bacterial meningitis by population group, and indicate the typical empiric therapy for these bacterial pathogens.
| Population Group | Common Pathogens | Empiric Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Newborns | Gram negative: Escherichia coli , Klebsiella , Enterobacter , Proteus group B streptococci: Streptococcus agalactiae | Cefotaxime + Ampicillin |
| Infants and children | Neisseria meningitidis , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Hemophilus influenzae | Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime plus vancomycin |
| Healthy, immunocompetent | N. meningitidis , S. pneumoniae , Listeria monocytogenes | Third/fourth-generation cephalosporin plus ampicillin plus vancomycin |
| Nosocomial/postneurosurgical | Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , staphylococci | Meropenem plus vancomycin |
| Ventriculitis | Staphylococcus epidermidis , Staphylococcus aureus , gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa | Meropenem plus vancomycin |
| Elderly | L. monocytogenes , gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa , pneumococci | Third/fourth-generation cephalosporin plus ampicillin plus vancomycin |
Sources
Roos KL (Editor): Principles of Neurologic Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice . New York, McGraw-Hill, 2004.
