Specific treatment for patients with suspected encephalitis
What specific empirical antimicrobial agent(s) should be used in patients with suspected encephalitis?
Although a wide range of viruses have been reported to cause encephalitis, specific antiviral therapy for viral encephalitis is generally limited to disease caused by the herpes viruses, especially herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Because the earlier the treatment is started for herpes simplex encephalitis, the less likely death or serious sequelae will result, acyclovir (10 mg/kg intravenously every 8 hours in children and adults with normal renal function) should be initiated in all patients with suspected encephalitis as soon as possible, pending results of diagnostic studies.
