How long should antibiotics be continued for in bacterial meningitis?

  • Recommended duration of antibiotic therapy depends upon which pathogen is identified.
    • Streptococcus pneumoniae – 10 days if stable (14 days if slow responder or resistant organism)
    • Neisseria meningitides – 5 days
    • Listeria monocytogenes – 21 days
    • Haemophilus influenza – 10 days
  • If no pathogen is identified, antibiotics can be stopped after 10 days
  • Treatment duration may need to be extended if patient is not responding