Nosocomial Bacterial Meningitis

Nosocomial bacterial meningitis is most often related to either complicated head trauma or invasive procedures, such as craniotomy, placement of ventricular catheters, intrathecal infusion of medications, or spinal anesthesia. In addition, metastatic infection from hospital-acquired bacteremia occasionally leads to meningitis. The conditions are associated with different pathogenetic mechanisms and a different spectrum of microorganisms, and therefore the choice of empirical antimicrobial therapy will vary according to the condition.