Bacterial meningitis in aging adults

Bacterial meningitis remains a highly lethal disease in older adults, with mortality rates averaging >20% despite modern antibiotic therapy. In this population, more variable presentations are seen, with fewer patients manifesting fever, neck stiffness, and headache than among younger adults. In addition, many older adults (aged greater than or equal to 60 years) may have other underlying diseases causing symptoms that may be confused with those of meningitis. The spectrum of etiologic bacterial organisms is more broad than that for a younger population, in part because of the increased frequency of severe underlying diseases and in part as a result of immunosenescence. Therapy is complicated by both the range of possible causative organisms and the increasing antibiotic resistance manifested by some. These difficulties, contrasted with the success of vaccination in the pediatric population, highlight the need for improved preventive strategies for older adults. This review outlines some key clinical points in the management of bacterial meningitis in the older adult.