Epidemiology of Adult Meningitis and Encephalitis in the U.S.

Although enterovirus and unknown etiology accounted for 70% of hospitalized cases, more than 85% of all patients received an antibacterial.

Meningitis and encephalitis in adults can have a myriad of causes and can present diagnostic and treatment challenges. To rectify a lack of clinical data to assess these issues, industry-supported researchers analyzed cases of meningitis and encephalitis occurring in U.S. adults from 2011 through 2014 using the Premier Healthcare Database, which contains information on more than 600 million patient encounters in more than 700 U.S. hospitals.

Using hospital discharge ICD-9 diagnostic codes, the researchers identified 26,429 cases of meningitis and encephalitis, of which 24,091 resulted in hospitalization. The most common causes were enterovirus, which accounted for most cases (51%), followed by unknown etiology (19%), bacterial (14%), herpeti…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

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Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Epidemiology of Adult Meningitis and Encephalitis in the U.S.

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Reviewing Author