Prophylaxis in bacterial meningitis

A questionnaire about the use of prophylactic antibiotics in bacterial meningitis was sent to medical officers of environmental health and microbiologists in England. There was broad agreement that prophylaxis should be offered to close contacts of acute meningitis due to Neisseria meningitidis but not to contacts of meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Overall 28% of those who replied said they could consider giving prophylaxis to contacts of meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae. Rifampicin was the most common choice of drug. The indications for prophylaxis in bacterial meningitis are discussed.