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Meta-Analysis
. 2009 May;84(5):403-9.
doi: 10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60558-2.

Corticosteroid administration and outcome of adolescents and adults with acute bacterial meningitis: a meta-analysis

Abdullah M Assiri  1 , Faisal A Alasmari, Valerie A Zimmerman, Larry M Baddour, Patricia J Erwin, Imad M Tleyjeh
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Corticosteroid administration and outcome of adolescents and adults with acute bacterial meningitis: a meta-analysis

Abdullah M Assiri et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2009 May.

Abstract

Objective: To systematically assess the effect of the adjunctive administration of corticosteroids in the treatment of acute bacterial meningitis.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching several databases for reports (published from January 1966 through February 2008) of placebo-controlled randomized trials of corticosteroid use in the treatment of adolescents and adults with acute bacterial meningitis. We used random-effects models. Sources of heterogeneity were explored by preplanned subgroup analyses.

Results: The 4 eligible trials (published between 1999 and 2007) were of high methodological quality and included 1261 adult patients. Overall, the short-term mortality rate associated with corticosteroid administration was not significantly lower than that associated with placebo (relative risk [RR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-1.20; I(2)=54%). A significant interaction was found between the effect of corticosteroids and the income status of the country (P=.02) and the prevalence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among study populations (P=.03). The administration of corticosteroids resulted in a lower short-term mortality rate than did the administration of placebo in high-income countries (pooled RR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.27-0.92; I(2)=0%) and in the studies with a low prevalence of infection with HIV (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44-0.99; I(2)=0%). In studies from high-income countries, the number needed to treat with corticosteriods to prevent 1 death and 1 neurologic sequela was 12.5 (95% CI, 7.1-100.0) and 11.0 (95% CI, 5.6-100.0), respectively.

Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that the adjunctive administration of corticosteroids is beneficial in the treatment of adolescents and adults with bacterial meningitis in patient populations similar to those seen in high-income countries and in areas with a low prevalence of HIV infection.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Flow diagram of eligible studies.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Forest plot showing the effect of corticosteroids on short-term mortality in adults with bacterial meningitis. CI = confidence interval; RR = relative risk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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