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Dexamethasone in adults with bacterial meningitis.

Seventy five patients of acute bacterial meningitis, aged 12 to 70 years, were randomized to two treatment groups. In addition to standard antibiotic therapy, one group received dexamethasone in a dose of 8 mg, 6 hourly for 7 days. The main outcome measures used were (a) Rapidity of recovery parameters, namely, time to defervesence, disappearance of neck rigidity and return of consciousness (b) Incidence of neurological complications during hospitalization and follow-up (c) Mortality. There were no significant differences in outcome between the two treatment groups in any of the clinical parameters assessed. The use of dexamethasone as an adjunct does not speed recovery from acute illness and does not reduce the incidence of neurological complications or death in adult patients with acute bacterial meningitis.