OBJECTIVE: One of the most devastating sequelae of bacterial meningitis is profound hearing loss or even deafness. Although cochlear implantation is able to restore (some) hearing abilities, obliteration due to fibrosis and especially calcification of the cochlea in the postmeningitis period is limiting the success rate of an implantation. A national consensus assembled in a postmeningitis follow-up protocol has to increase awareness and thus the chances of an early detection and possible intervention when profound hearing loss occurs. SETTING: All cochlear implant (CI) centers of The Netherlands located in the 8 academic otorhinolaryngology and audiology departments of The Netherlands, gathered in the Dutch Cochlear Implant Group (CI-ON, Cochlear Implant Overleg Nederland). INTERVENTION: A protocol proposed by 3 centers was sent to all other CI centers in The Netherlands to review and agree on. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The CI centers agreed on the need for, and use of, the proposed protocol. Keystones of the protocol are treatment with dexamethasone before start of antibiotics, early magnetic resonance imaging and repeated audiological follow-up, and urgent referral to a CI center in all cases with greater than 30 dB SNHL. CONCLUSION: The Cochlear Implant Centers in The Netherlands (CI-ON) have agreed on a protocolized follow-up after bacterial meningitis to increase the chances of an early detection and possible intervention should profound hearing loss occur.
OBJECTIVE: One of the most devastating sequelae of bacterial meningitis is profound hearing loss or even deafness. Although cochlear implantation is able to restore (some) hearing abilities, obliteration due to fibrosis and especially calcification of the cochlea in the postmeningitis period is limiting the success rate of an implantation. A national consensus assembled in a postmeningitis follow-up protocol has to increase awareness and thus the chances of an early detection and possible intervention when profound hearing loss occurs. SETTING: All cochlear implant (CI) centers of The Netherlands located in the 8 academic otorhinolaryngology and audiology departments of The Netherlands, gathered in the Dutch Cochlear Implant Group (CI-ON, Cochlear Implant Overleg Nederland). INTERVENTION: A protocol proposed by 3 centers was sent to all other CI centers in The Netherlands to review and agree on. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The CI centers agreed on the need for, and use of, the proposed protocol. Keystones of the protocol are treatment with dexamethasone before start of antibiotics, early magnetic resonance imaging and repeated audiological follow-up, and urgent referral to a CI center in all cases with greater than 30 dB SNHL. CONCLUSION: The Cochlear Implant Centers in The Netherlands (CI-ON) have agreed on a protocolized follow-up after bacterial meningitis to increase the chances of an early detection and possible intervention should profound hearing loss occur.
Authors: Paul Merkus; Fillipo Di Lella; Giuseppe Di Trapani; Enrico Pasanisi; Milo A Beltrame; Diego Zanetti; Maurizio Negri; Mario Sanna Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2013-02-13 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Marian B A Rodenburg-Vlot; Liesbet Ruytjens; Rianne Oostenbrink; Marc P van der Schroeff Journal: Otol Neurotol Date: 2018-06 Impact factor: 2.311
Authors: Rogier C J de Jonge; Marieke S Sanders; Caroline B Terwee; Martijn W Heymans; Reinoud J B J Gemke; Irene Koomen; Lodewijk Spanjaard; A Marceline van Furth Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-03-11 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Marieke S Sanders; Rogier C J de Jonge; Caroline B Terwee; Martijn W Heymans; Irene Koomen; Sander Ouburg; Lodewijk Spanjaard; Servaas A Morré; A Marceline van Furth Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2013-07-23 Impact factor: 3.090