Use of intravenous fluids
In general, most children admitted with meningitis are given
intravenous fluids. A common practice has been to restrict
fluids to two thirds or three quarters of the daily maintenance:
the reasoning is that this reduces the likelihood of the
syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone
(SIADH). The incidence of SIADH reported in studies varies
considerably, from 4% to 88%, which can be attributed to the
different criteria used in its definition. SIADH leads to
hyponatraemia and fluid retention, which may worsen
cerebral oedema. However, a significant proportion of meningitis
cases present with dehydration or hypovolaemia and are
in clinical need of fluid resuscitation.55 As the mechanism of
antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion in meningitis is still
unknown, the debate on whether the increased secretion of
ADH is appropriate or not, remains unclear. This has resulted
in the clinical dilemma of whether fluids should be restricted
or not. Children with meningitis have excess total and extracellular
water (ECW), an appropriate increased secretion of
ADH, and mild systemic hypertension. All these changes are
needed to overcome the raised intracranial pressure and to
maintain adequate cerebral blood flow and perfusion. Consequently
fluid restriction may increase the likelihood of adverse
outcome.56 One experimental study showed that liberal fluid
administration in Escherichia coli meningitis did not aggravate
brain oedema.57 Interestingly, a recent multicentre randomised
trial from Papua New Guinea comparing moderate oral fluid
restriction to total maintenance intravenous fluids in the first
48 hours in children, did not show any increase in adverse
outcome in the non-restricted group; however, signs of dehydration
at presentation were a risk factor for adverse outcome
Table 1 Dosages and frequency of the common antibiotics used in bacterial
meningitis
Drug Dose Frequency (times daily) Maximum total daily dose
Penicillin G 50 mg/kg 4–6 14.4 g
Cefotaxime 50 mg/kg 4 3 g
Ceftriaxone 80–100 mg/kg 1 4 g
Ampicillin 100 mg/kg 4 3 g
Ceftazidime 50 mg/kg 3 6 g
Vancomycin 15 mg/kg then 10 mg/kg 4 2 g
Diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis 617
www.archdischild.com
in the fluid restricted group.58 Hyponatraemia has been correlated
with an increased risk of seizures and neurological
abnormalities.59 Although hyponatraemia can occur as a result
of excessive fluid administration or SIADH, it can also occur in
children with dehydration.60 It is therefore important that the
degree of hydration is carefully assessed in order to correctly
manage the fluid balance. If the decision is not to restrict fluid
intake, extra care should be taken to avoid over-hydration, as
this can easily occur inadvertently when maintenance fluids
are given intravenously and other oral intake (for example,
breast feeding) is allowed.57
The British Infection Society working party recommended
that adult patients with meningitis should be kept euvolaemic
and not fluid restricted in an attempt to reduce cerebral
oedema.35 Similarly we suggest that the evidence does not
support fluid restriction in children.
Use of intravenous fluidsIn general, most children admitted with meningitis are givenintravenous fluids. A common practice has been to restrictfluids to two thirds or three quarters of the daily maintenance:the reasoning is that this reduces the likelihood of thesyndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone(SIADH). The incidence of SIADH reported in studies variesconsiderably, from 4% to 88%, which can be attributed to thedifferent criteria used in its definition. SIADH leads tohyponatraemia and fluid retention, which may worsencerebral oedema. However, a significant proportion of meningitiscases present with dehydration or hypovolaemia and arein clinical need of fluid resuscitation.55 As the mechanism ofantidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion in meningitis is stillunknown, the debate on whether the increased secretion ofADH is appropriate or not, remains unclear. This has resultedin the clinical dilemma of whether fluids should be restrictedor not. Children with meningitis have excess total and extracellularwater (ECW), an appropriate increased secretion ofADH, and mild systemic hypertension. All these changes areneeded to overcome the raised intracranial pressure and tomaintain adequate cerebral blood flow and perfusion. Consequentlyfluid restriction may increase the likelihood of adverseoutcome.56 One experimental study showed that liberal fluidadministration in Escherichia coli meningitis did not aggravatebrain oedema.57 Interestingly, a recent multicentre randomised
trial from Papua New Guinea comparing moderate oral fluid
restriction to total maintenance intravenous fluids in the first
48 hours in children, did not show any increase in adverse
outcome in the non-restricted group; however, signs of dehydration
at presentation were a risk factor for adverse outcome
Table 1 Dosages and frequency of the common antibiotics used in bacterial
meningitis
Drug Dose Frequency (times daily) Maximum total daily dose
Penicillin G 50 mg/kg 4–6 14.4 g
Cefotaxime 50 mg/kg 4 3 g
Ceftriaxone 80–100 mg/kg 1 4 g
Ampicillin 100 mg/kg 4 3 g
Ceftazidime 50 mg/kg 3 6 g
Vancomycin 15 mg/kg then 10 mg/kg 4 2 g
Diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis 617
www.archdischild.com
in the fluid restricted group.58 Hyponatraemia has been correlated
with an increased risk of seizures and neurological
abnormalities.59 Although hyponatraemia can occur as a result
of excessive fluid administration or SIADH, it can also occur in
children with dehydration.60 It is therefore important that the
degree of hydration is carefully assessed in order to correctly
manage the fluid balance. If the decision is not to restrict fluid
intake, extra care should be taken to avoid over-hydration, as
this can easily occur inadvertently when maintenance fluids
are given intravenously and other oral intake (for example,
breast feeding) is allowed.57
The British Infection Society working party recommended
that adult patients with meningitis should be kept euvolaemic
and not fluid restricted in an attempt to reduce cerebral
oedema.35 Similarly we suggest that the evidence does not
support fluid restriction in children.
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