Bacterial meningitis in adults - principles of diagnosis and antibiotic treatment.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains in recent years has necessitated the development of new strategies for empiric antimicrobial therapy for bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality despite the availability of effective antimicrobial therapy. The management approach to patients with suspected or proven bacterial meningitis includes initiation of appropriate antimicrobial and adjunctive therapies and decides on the patients survival.