Corticosteroids for acute bacterial meningitis

Objectives: We conducted a systematic review examining the efficacy and safety of adjuvant corticosteroid therapy in acute bacterial meningitis.

Authors' conclusions: Overall, corticosteroids significantly reduced rates of mortality, severe hearing loss and neurological sequelae. In adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis, corticosteroid therapy should be administered in conjunction with the first antibiotic dose. In children, data support the use of adjunctive corticosteroids in children in high-income countries. We found no beneficial effect of corticosteroids for children in low-income countries