Meningitis (peds)

Background

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Pediatric Rash

Diagnosis

Bacterial Meningitis Score for >2mo and well-appearing

  • Risk Factor
    • Peripheral blood ANC >10K
    • Seizure
    • CSF
      • CSF ANC >1000
      • CSF protein >80
      • CSF Gram stain (if + 61% Sn, 99% Sp)
  • Any risk factor = high risk for bacterial meningitis
  • Very low risk if infant lacks all risk factors

Work-Up

  1. CBC
  2. CSF

Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis Score[1]

Bacterial Meningitis Score '
Criteria Point Score
Positive CSF Gram Stain 2
CSF protein > 80mg/dL 1
Blood Absolute neutrophil count > 10,000 cells/mm3 1
Incidence of seizures with illness 1
CSF neutrophil count ≥ 1000 cells/mm3 1
  • 0 points: Aseptic meningitis likely[2]
  • 1 point: Aseptic meningitis less likely[3]
  • ≥2 points: Bacterial Meningitis more likely[4]

Treatment

Neonates (up to 1 month of age)[5]

MRSA is uncommon in the neonate

> 1 month old[7]

Adult < 50 yr[8]

Adult > 50 yr and Immunocompromised[9]

Post Procedural (or penetrating trauma)[11]

Cryptococcosis Meningitis

Options

  • Amphotericin B 1mg/kg IV once daily AND Flucytosine 25mg/kg PO q6hrs daily
  • Amphotericin B 5mg/kg IV once daily AND Flucytosine 25mg/kg PO q6hrs daily

Meningitis with severe PCN allergy

Meningitis with VP shunt

Neisseria meningitidis Prophylaxis

  • Ceftriaxone 250mg IM once (if less than 15yr then 125mg IM)
  • Ciprofloxacin 500mg PO once
  • Rifampin 600 mg PO BID x 2 days
    • if < 1 month old then 5mg/kg PO BID x 2 days
    • if ≥ 1 month old then 10mg/kg (max at 600mg) PO BID x 2 days

Disposition

  • Admit despite negative meningitis score if:
    • Age <2mo w/ any degree of pleocytosis
    • Appear ill
    • Infants w/ aseptic meningitis
  • If likely viral meningitis still give ceftriaxone x 1, f/u in 24hr

See Also

Source

  1. Chavanet P, Schaller C, Levy C, et al. Performance of a predictive rule to distinguish bacterial and viral meningitis. J Infect 2007;54: 328–36.

  2. Nigrovic LE, Kuppermann N, Macias CG, et al. Clinical prediction rule for identifying children with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis at very low risk of bacterial meningitis. JAMA 2007;297:52–60.

  3. Fine AM, Nigrovic LE, Reis BY, Cook EF, Mandl KD. Linking surveillance to action: incorporation of real-time regional data into a medical decision rule. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2007;14: 206–11.
  4. Dubos F, Korczowski B, Aygun DA, et al. Distinguishing between bacterial and aseptic meningitis in children: European comparison of two clinical decision rules. Arch Dis Child 2010;95:963–7.

  5. van de Beek D. et al. Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis. Lancet. Nov 10 2012;380(9854):1693-702
  6. https://www.aappublications.org/content/early/2015/02/25/aapnews.20150225-1
  7. van de Beek D. et al. Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis. Lancet. Nov 10 2012;380(9854):1693-702
  8. van de Beek D. et al. Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis. Lancet. Nov 10 2012;380(9854):1693-702
  9. van de Beek D. et al. Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis. Lancet. Nov 10 2012;380(9854):1693-702
  10. [Guideline] Chaudhuri A, Martinez-Martin P, Kennedy PG, et al. EFNS guideline on the management of community-acquired bacterial meningitis: report of an EFNS Task Force on acute bacterial meningitis in older children and adults. Eur J Neurol. 2008 Jul. 15(7):649-59.
  11. van de Beek D. et al. Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis. Lancet. Nov 10 2012;380(9854):1693-702