Ileana Rebedea*
*Conf. Dr. Ileana Rebedea, Clinica II Boli Infecțioase. Spitalul “N. G. Lupu”, U.M.F. “Carol Davila”, București
Abstract
Despite recent advences in antimicrobial therapy, the overall morbidity and mortality remains high in bacterial meningitis. The attenuation of the subarahnoidian space inflammatory respons by anti-inflammatory agents may be useful in preventing neurological sequelle and bilateral hearing loss. The generation of an intens subarahnoidian space inflamatory response induced by release of bacterial virulence factors and inflammatory cytokines, contributes to cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure and alteration of cereb ral blood flow. Administration of dexamethasone before or concomitant with the first dose of antimicrobial agent is optimal for maximal attenuation of the subarachnoidian space inflammatory response. Other anti-inflamatory agents, such as specifically monoclonal antibodies, pentoxiphilline were examined in experimental studies.