Right Decisions
NHS Tayside ED Guidance
Paediatrics
Meningitis and sepsis
Management of bacterial meningitis
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Management of bacterial meningitis in children and young people Q & A algorithm
Lumbar puncture contraindicated

Update your RDS mobile app to v4.7.2 to download toolkits even when website is down.

We are pleased to advise that deep linking capability, enabling users to directly download individual mobile toolkits, has now been released on the RDS mobile app. You will see that each toolkit has a small QR code icon in the header area beside the search icon – see screenshot below. Clicking on this icon will open up a window with a full-size QR code and the alternative of a short URL for sharing with users. Instructions are provided.

You may need to actively update to the latest release - RDS app version 4.7.1 - to see this improvement.

Updating to this latest version of the RDS app is also strongly recommended to get the full benefits of the new resilience arrangements – specifically, that if the RDS website should fail, you will still be able to download new mobile app toolkits. To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. To install latest updates:

On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot with any questions.

Lumbar puncture contraindicated

NHS Tayside ED Guidance

Commence empiric antibiotics for suspected meningitis without delay:

Children under 3 months:

IV cefotaxime and either amoxicillin or ampicillin (can replace cefotaxime with ceftriaxone if no contraindication)
Add vancomycin if recently overseas or prolonged or multiple antibiotic exposure within the last three months.

Children 3 months and over:

IV ceftriaxone unless contraindicated
Add vancomycin if recently overseas or prolonged or multiple antibiotic exposure within the last three months.

Contraindications to ceftriaxone: premature neonates with corrected gestational age under 41 weeks and other neonates under 1 month old, particularly those with jaundice, hypoalbuminemia, or acidosis; or receiving concomitant treatment with intravenous calcium.

Perform delayed lumbar puncture in children with suspected bacterial meningitis when contraindications are no longer present (link back into pathway)