Neurológia pre prax 4/2021

Community-acquired bacterial meningitis

Purulent infections of the central nervous system belong to life-threatening diseases. Their incidence is relatively low; however, their importance lies in high case fatality ratio and frequent permanent sequelae. The prognosis depends on a number of factors, most notably the speed of diagnosis and the initiation of correct causal and supportive treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to educate physicians of all disciplines about the importance and approach to these infections. Purulent meningitis is an infection of the soft meninges caused by pyogenic bacteria. Despite declining incidence over the last 20 years and medical progress, due to its high case fatality ratio and permanent sequelae meningitis remains a major challenge for physicians and scientists.

Keywords: acute bacterial meningitis, epidemiology, diagnostics, treatment, complication