Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis and remains a major global health threat. For the first time, health-care workers around the world will have access to an evidence-based, consensus-driven guideline that addresses key challenges in the diagnosis and management of TBM.
The guideline was developed by the Tuberculous Meningitis International Research Consortium, bringing together experts from India, Indonesia, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Australia, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. OUCRU researchers contributed substantially to shaping the recommendations, highlighting knowledge gaps and setting global research priorities.
Dr Joseph Donovan, OUCRU researcher and lead author on the study, said: ‘Tuberculous meningitis is a catastrophic neurological infection. We have now provided an up-to-date international guideline, written for health-care workers who diagnose and manage this disease anywhere in the world. We hope this guideline can be a helpful tool, supporting health professionals in tackling this devastating disease.’
OUCRU’s longstanding focus on tuberculous meningitis research, supported by Wellcome, has laid the foundation for many of the clinical trials and studies that underpin this guideline. This milestone underscores OUCRU’s vision to make a local, regional, and global impact on health by leading research on infectious diseases in Asia.
Read the full guideline in The Lancet Infectious Diseases: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(25)00364-0/fulltext