Bacterial Meningitis in Adults: A Narrative Review

Objective: To identify the etiology, risk factors, treatment, and associated sequelae of bacterial meningitis in adults. Design: A literature review based on a narrative synthesis. Data Sources: Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Redalyc, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scielo. Data Selection: Documents were selected and analyzed through a critical literature review, considering inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: A total of 10 articles were analyzed, including 3 statistical analyses, 3 narrative reviews, 2 systematic reviews, and 2 clinical trials. The study populations included various categories: 6 articles focused on adults, 1 on males, 1 on individuals aged 25 to 50 years, and 2 involving animal experiments. Studies were conducted in various countries, including 2 in Africa, 2 in the U.S., 2 in Germany, and 1 each in Northern Ghana, Sweden, South Korea, and Egypt, contributing unique perspectives to the research. The clinical condition was characterized as follows: 3 articles highlighted the most frequent symptoms of bacterial meningitis, 4 focused on sequelae, 2 reported high fatality rates, and 1 examined early intensive care (EIC) and antibiotic recovery. Regarding socioeconomic status, 4 articles reported cases from low-income countries, 1 from high income countries, and 1 from a middle-income country. Conclusion: Bacterial meningitis represents a severe public health threat, particularly in vulnerable populations, such as older adults and those with underlying conditions. Despite the effectiveness of treatments like dexamethasone and antibiotics, the high mortality and morbidity rates emphasize the importance of early and accurate diagnosis.