What is the prophylaxis for meningitis?

Antibiotics. Close contacts of a person with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick. Experts call this prophylaxis (pro-fuh-lak-sis).

Table of Contents

Can you prevent pneumococcal meningitis?

Immunization has been shown to be one of most effective methods for preventing pneumococcal meningitis, resulting not only in a decrease in disease burden, but also a decrease in antimicrobial resistance.

What antibiotic is used for pneumococcal meningitis?

The treatment of choice for pneumococcal meningitis in adults has historically been penicillin, with vancomycin (or chloramphenicol) being a reasonable alternative in patients allergic to penicillin (see later).

What is the recommended prophylaxis after contact with patient with meningococcal meningitis?

Ceftriaxone may provide an effective alternative to rifampin for prophylaxis in people in close contact with patients with meningococcal meningitis. Oily chloramphenicol may be the drug of choice in areas with limited health facilities, because a single dose of the long-acting form has been shown to be effective.

What is pneumococcal meningitis?

Pneumococcal meningitis is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria (also called pneumococcus, or S pneumoniae). This type of bacteria is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in adults. It is the second most common cause of meningitis in children older than age 2. Risk factors include: Alcohol use.

What is the prophylaxis for Neisseria meningitidis?

Postexposure Prophylaxis meningitidis in the source patient. Rifampin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone are 90%-95% effective in reducing nasopharyngeal carriage of N. meningitidis and are all acceptable antimicrobial agents for chemoprophylaxis.

How can meningitis vaccine be prevented?

All 11 to 12 year olds should get a MenACWY vaccine, with a booster dose at 16 years old. Teens and young adults (16 through 23 years old) also may get a MenB vaccine. CDC also recommends meningococcal vaccination for other children and adults who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease.

What age is the pneumonia vaccine given?

CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 2 years old and all adults 65 years or older.

Is there a vaccine for pneumococcal meningitis?

The pneumococcal vaccine was found to be highly effective in preventing severe pneumococcal infection (meaning meningitis, bloodstream infections and pneumonia) in a large trial of children injected with the vaccine. About 40,000 children were included in the initial trial of the vaccine.

Which two vaccines are recommended for prevention of pneumococcal infections?

There are two kinds of pneumococcal vaccines available in the United States:

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV13, PCV15, or PCV20)
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)

What is Rifampicin used for prophylaxis?

Rifampin is the drug of choice for prophylaxis (preventing disease) of close contacts of patients with Meningococcal disease and H. influenzae infection. Rifampin is 90% effective at reducing these types of bacteria in the nose and throat, therefore preventing spread of these infections.

What is the difference between meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis?

Pneumococcal Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus, while meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, or meningococcus.