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Abstract Bacterial meningitis is a serious illness caused by invading bacteria that elicit an inflammatory response in the arachnoid, the pia mater, and the intervening cerebrospinal fluid. Any organism may produce meningitis in a susceptible individual. Haemophilus influenzae type b, streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitides are the responsible agents in about 95% of children over three months of age. Acute bacterial meningitis remains a potentially devastating illness. In spite of the availability of prompt and effective antimicrobial therapy, the case fatality remains 8% to 10% and the rate of serious neurologic sequelae is 10% to 30%. |