Antimicrobial prescribing: NHS Forth Valley
Important: Therapy
Aciclovir 10mg/kg IV 8 hourly
Notes:
IV route necessary to ensure adequate tissue levels
Adjust dose in renal impairment
Use ideal body weight in obesity
Viral Meningitis / Encephalitis
Micro Organisms
Viral meningitis (including HSV and VZV) is commonly a self-limiting illness.
Antiviral treatment should be used where there are clinical features of encephalitis or in systemically unwell immunocompromised patient (i.e. possible viraemia)
Consider covering for bacterial meningo-encephalitis too where there are other clinical features that could suggest bacterial infection e.g. haemodynamically unstable, high peripheral blood WCC and/or CRP