Observational Study of Acute Treatment and Long-Term Outcomes in Adults With Infectious Meningitis in Brazil

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are conducting a prospective, multicenter observational clinical registry involving adult patients aged 18 and older with suspected acute infectious meningitis, across about 30 public and private hospitals in Brazil. The study aims to gather real-world evidence on current clinical management, treatments, and both short- and long-term outcomes to support improvements in national care protocols. It focuses on meningitis caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. Clinical and laboratory data will be collected during hospitalization and through follow-up visits after discharge. The data include timing and type of empirical antibiotic therapy, time from hospital admission to first antibiotic dose, corticosteroid therapy initiation, vaccination status according to the Brazilian National Immunization Program, neurological complications, and access to specialized rehabilitation services post-discharge. The study will assess outcomes such as mortality, hospital stay length, re-hospitalization rates, and sensorineural hearing loss. Participants will be monitored closely during hospitalization and after discharge, with data collection aimed at evaluating functional status through measures like the modified Rankin Score and Barthel Index. Researchers will track serious adverse events, neurological sequelae, and rehabilitation access over a period extending up to 180 days. This comprehensive follow-up will help inform public health and clinical care improvements in Brazil.

Acute Treatment and Long-term Assessment of Adult Infectious Meningitis