Dexamethasone for Bacterial Meningitis

We're indebted to Dr Wald and colleagues for their careful multicenter investigation of the effect of dexamethasone therapy on the outcome of bacterial meningitis1 and to Dr Prober for his thoughtful commentary and advice.2 These esteemed colleagues conclude against beneficial effect of dexamethasone and against recommending its use for most children with suspected bacterial meningitis. Perched on the same fence of uncertainty, with the same data in hand from this study and others, one could slip (equally uncomfortably) into the mud on the other side of the fence.