Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis

<p>Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis, with high mortality and neurological disability in survivors. Recent advances include improved nucleic-acid diagnostics for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), refined pediatric regimens, and emerging intensified/adjunctive treatments....

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Autor principal: Caliman-Sturdza, Olga Adriana
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Publicado: IntechOpen 2026
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Acceso en línea:https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237650
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author Caliman-Sturdza, Olga Adriana
author_browse Caliman-Sturdza, Olga Adriana
author_facet Caliman-Sturdza, Olga Adriana
author_sort Caliman-Sturdza, Olga Adriana
building IntechOpen
collection Acceso abierto
description <p>Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis, with high mortality and neurological disability in survivors. Recent advances include improved nucleic-acid diagnostics for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), refined pediatric regimens, and emerging intensified/adjunctive treatments. Narrative synthesis of current guidelines and peer-reviewed articles (priority on 2019&ndash;2025), with an emphasis on pathophysiology, diagnostics, treatment (drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TBM), and age-specific issues. Xpert MTB/RIF or Xpert Ultra should be the first-line CSF tests in adults and children with suspected TBM; the latter has greater sensitivity in paucibacillary syndrome. The use of adjunctive corticosteroids (mortality benefit) remains supported, and trials of high-dose rifampicin and fluoroquinolone add-on have shown mixed clinical outcome improvements, even with improved pharmacokinetics. A 6-month intensive regimen of HRZE-ethionamide has been added as an alternative to the usual 12-month course of treatment for carefully selected, drug-susceptible TBM. With MDR&ndash;TB, linezolid and fluoroquinolones have desirable CNS penetration; bedaquiline demonstrates a quantifiable CSF exposure and is being increasingly used as part of MDR&ndash;TBM regimens. Early empiric therapy and steroids remain the cornerstone. Quick molecular diagnosis, individualized therapy with CNS-penetrant agents, and adjuncts (e.g., aspirin to decrease infarcts) are transforming care, and large trials are being conducted to clarify the best intensified therapy, particularly in children and in HIV co-infection.</p>
doi_str_mv 10.5772/intechopen.1014269
first_indexed 2026-10-15T21:41:34Z
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spelling intech-12376502026-02-03 Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis Olga Adriana Caliman-Sturdza Health Sciences <p>Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis, with high mortality and neurological disability in survivors. Recent advances include improved nucleic-acid diagnostics for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), refined pediatric regimens, and emerging intensified/adjunctive treatments. Narrative synthesis of current guidelines and peer-reviewed articles (priority on 2019&ndash;2025), with an emphasis on pathophysiology, diagnostics, treatment (drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TBM), and age-specific issues. Xpert MTB/RIF or Xpert Ultra should be the first-line CSF tests in adults and children with suspected TBM; the latter has greater sensitivity in paucibacillary syndrome. The use of adjunctive corticosteroids (mortality benefit) remains supported, and trials of high-dose rifampicin and fluoroquinolone add-on have shown mixed clinical outcome improvements, even with improved pharmacokinetics. A 6-month intensive regimen of HRZE-ethionamide has been added as an alternative to the usual 12-month course of treatment for carefully selected, drug-susceptible TBM. With MDR&ndash;TB, linezolid and fluoroquinolones have desirable CNS penetration; bedaquiline demonstrates a quantifiable CSF exposure and is being increasingly used as part of MDR&ndash;TBM regimens. Early empiric therapy and steroids remain the cornerstone. Quick molecular diagnosis, individualized therapy with CNS-penetrant agents, and adjuncts (e.g., aspirin to decrease infarcts) are transforming care, and large trials are being conducted to clarify the best intensified therapy, particularly in children and in HIV co-infection.</p> IntechOpen 2026-02-03 Chapter, Part Of Book https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237650 doi:10.5772/intechopen.1014269 en ISBN:978-1-80631-061-6 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ https://www.intechopen.com/books/1004992 ; Developments in Tuberculosis Research and Treatment
spellingShingle Health Sciences
Caliman-Sturdza, Olga Adriana
Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis
title Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis
title_full Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis
title_fullStr Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis
title_full_unstemmed Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis
title_short Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis
title_sort progress in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculous meningitis
topic Health Sciences
url https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237650
work_keys_str_mv AT calimansturdzaolgaadriana progressinthediagnosisandtreatmentoftuberculousmeningitis