Table 7 Empirical treatment recommendations for suspected bacterial meningitis

 EFNS Europe

P, A

E

Older children and adults**

Yes

 ESCMID Europe

P, A

N, A > 50 years, or if risk factor for L. monocytogenes

N

**,^{^}

Yes^{^} up to 4 h post-antibiotics

 DSI Denmark

A

A if risk of L. monocytogenes

Yes

 SPILF France

P, A

P, A if suspected L. monocytogenes°

If S. pneumoniae

Yes^″

 DGN: BM Germany

A

A

A**

Yes

 HPSC Ireland

P > 2 m, A

N, P < 2 months

N, P < 2 months

**,^{^}

Yes up to 24 h post-antibiotics

 NVN Netherlands

P, A

N, A

Yes

 MHSSE^# Spain

P

Yes

 NICE UK

P > 3 m

N, P < 3 months

If travel outside of the UK

Yes^{^^} up to 12 h post-antibiotics

 UKJSS UK

A

A > 60 years

Pending travel history

Yes up to 12 h post-antibiotics

 SIGN^# Scotland

P > 3 m

N, P ≤ 3 months

Yes up to 24 h post-antibiotics

 IDSA USA/Global

P, A

N, A > 50 years

N

P, A

P^{^}, infants if Hib, A

 AEPED Spain

P

N, P ≤ 3 months

**,^{^}

Yes

 MSF Global

P > 3 m, A

N, P ≤ 3 months

N, P ≤ 3 months

Yes^{^}

 NNF Norway

NS

NS

Yes