Acute bacterial meningitis complications (mnemonic)

The complications of acute bacterial meningitis can be remembered using the mnemonic:

• HACTIVE

Mnemonic

• H: hydrocephalus
• A: abscess
• C: cerebritis / cranial nerve lesion
• T: thrombosis
• I: infarct
• V: ventriculitis/vasculopathy
• E: extra-axial collection: empyema and hygroma

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