Bacterial meningitis in children and adults

PREVIEW

Bacterial infection is among the most common of the many causes of meningitis; in the United States, about 6,000 cases of community-acquired bacterial meningitis occur each year. The disease is of special concern because consequences are potentially devastating and because isolates with reduced susceptibility to penicillin are found in increasing and alarming numbers. This article summarizes current knowledge about development, epidemiology, investigation, management, and prevention of bacterial meningitis.