A recent meta analysis published in March 2010 has found no statistically significant benefits of the adjunct administration of Dexamethasone in the treatment of bacterial meningitis.
Here's the link
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835871/
However, for the purposes of the CK exam It's perhaps still recommended. Such a debatable update will not make its ways to the boards so fast.
If you face a related question here's what you should rely on in answering:
Dexamethasone is recommended in the treatment of bacterial meningitis. The greatest benefit is observed when it's given concomitantly with the first antibiotic dose. This is because the bacterial killing and lysis by the antibiotics will cause an intense inflammatory reaction in the meninges that may contribute to the observed meningitis mortality and morbidity.
Here's the link
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835871/
However, for the purposes of the CK exam It's perhaps still recommended. Such a debatable update will not make its ways to the boards so fast.
If you face a related question here's what you should rely on in answering:
Dexamethasone is recommended in the treatment of bacterial meningitis. The greatest benefit is observed when it's given concomitantly with the first antibiotic dose. This is because the bacterial killing and lysis by the antibiotics will cause an intense inflammatory reaction in the meninges that may contribute to the observed meningitis mortality and morbidity.