Pediatric Meningitis and Encephalitis Medication

  • Author: Jeffrey Hom, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAAP; Chief Editor: Richard G Bachur, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 19, 2011
 

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to eradicate the infection, reduce morbidity, and prevent complications.

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Antibiotics

Class Summary

IV antibiotics are required for bacterial meningitis. If the causative organism is unknown, antibiotics regimens can be based on the child's age.

Infants younger than 30 days, ampicillin and an aminoglycoside or a cephalosporin (cefotaxime) are recommended.

Children 30-60 days old, ampicillin and a cephalosporin (ceftriaxone or cefotaxime) can be used. Since S pneumoniae occasionally occurs in this age range, vancomycin should be considered instead of ampicillin.

In older children, a cephalosporin (eg, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone) or ampicillin plus chloramphenicol can be used.

Incidence of resistant S pneumoniae is increasing. If this is considered to be a potential pathogen, add vancomycin to the therapeutic regimen. Use of penicillin or ampicillin in the 3 months prior to illness is associated with increased risk of infection with resistant S pneumoniae.

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Cefotaxime (Claforan)

 

Third-generation cephalosporin with gram-negative spectrum. Lower efficacy against gram-positive organisms. Arrests bacterial cell wall synthesis, which, in turn, inhibits bacterial growth.

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Ceftazidime (Fortaz)

 

Third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum, gram-negative activity; lower efficacy against gram-positive organisms; higher efficacy against resistant organisms. Arrests bacterial growth by binding to one or more penicillin binding proteins.

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Ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen)

 

Bactericidal activity against susceptible organisms. Alternative to amoxicillin when unable to take medication orally.

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Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)

 

Third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum, gram-negative activity; lower efficacy against gram-positive organisms; higher efficacy against resistant organisms. Arrests bacterial growth by binding to one or more penicillin binding proteins.

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Gentamicin (Garamycin)

 

Aminoglycoside antibiotic for gram-negative coverage. Used in combination with both an agent against gram-positive organisms and one that covers anaerobes.

Not the DOC. Consider if penicillins or other less toxic drugs are contraindicated, when clinically indicated, and in mixed infections caused by susceptible staphylococci and gram-negative organisms.

Dosing regimens are numerous. Adjust dose based on CrCl and changes in volume of distribution. May be given IV/IM.

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Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)

 

Not used frequently since introduction of third-generation cephalosporins. Binds to 50 S bacterial-ribosomal subunits and inhibits bacterial growth by inhibiting protein synthesis. Effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

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Vancomycin (Vancocin)

 

Potent antibiotic directed against gram-positive organisms and active against Enterococcus species. Indicated for patients who cannot receive or have failed to respond to penicillins and cephalosporins or have infections with resistant staphylococci. For abdominal penetrating injuries, it is combined with an agent active against enteric flora and/or anaerobes.

To avoid toxicity, current recommendation is to assay vancomycin trough levels after third dose drawn 0.5 h prior to next dosing. Use CrCl to adjust dose in patients diagnosed with renal impairment.

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Corticosteroids

Class Summary

Uncertainty exists as to the benefits of corticosteroids as adjuvant therapy for meningitis. In adults, corticosteroids, given prior to or along with the first dose of antibiotics, reduce morbidity and mortality by hearing loss, long-term neurological sequelae, and deaths. These findings were applicable to high-income countries.

From their recent meta-analysis, Mongelluzzo et al found no benefits of corticosteroids in children. The survival and time to hospital discharge were comparable between the corticosteroid treatment group and the nontreatment group. Even when comparing age and causative organism, these two groups did not differ in survival and hospital discharge. To date, the role of corticosteroids as an adjuvant therapy is of uncertain benefits.[19]

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Dexamethasone (Decadron)

 

Decreases inflammation by suppressing migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and reducing capillary permeability.

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Prophylactic antibiotic

Class Summary

Used prophylactically in contacts of children with H influenzae or N meningitidis, as described.

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Rifampin (Rifadin)

 

Inhibits DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity in susceptible cells. Specifically, it interacts with bacterial RNA polymerase but does not inhibit the mammalian enzyme. Take on an empty stomach.

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Acyclovir

 

Prodrug activated by phosphorylation by virus-specific thymidine kinase that inhibits viral replication. Herpes virus thymidine kinase (TK), but not host cells TK, uses acyclovir as a purine nucleoside, converting it into acyclovir monophosphate, a nucleotide analogue. Guanylate kinase converts the monophosphate form into diphosphate and triphosphate analogues that inhibit viral DNA replication.

Has affinity for viral thymidine kinase and once phosphorylated causes DNA chain termination when acted on by DNA polymerase. Inhibits activity of both HSV-1 and HSV-2.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Jeffrey Hom, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAAP  Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics/Emergency Services and Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University School of Medicine

Jeffrey Hom, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert Allan Felter, MD, FAAP, CPE, FACPE  Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Inpatient Services, Inova Loudoun Hospital

Robert Allan Felter, MD, FAAP, CPE, FACPE is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Physician Executives

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Garry Wilkes, MBBS, FACEM  Director of Emergency Medicine, Bunbury Hospital; Medical Consultant, St John Ambulance, WA Ambulance Service; Adjunct Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University; Clinical Associate Professor, Rural Clinical School, University of Western Australia

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Grace M Young, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland Medical Center

Grace M Young, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Richard G Bachur, MD  Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Associate Chief and Fellowship Director, Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Boston

Richard G Bachur, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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