Santiago, Chile, September 5, 2025 - Health authorities, clinical experts, and representatives from across the Americas met in Santiago for a regional workshop organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the implementation of the new WHO guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of bacterial meningitis.
Held alongside the 10th Global Meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Defeating Meningitis by 2030 initiative, the session focused on translating the global recommendations into national action across the Region. Participants from ministries of health, national reference laboratories and scientific societies reviewed current practices and systems, exchanged experiences, and identified practical steps to adapt the guidelines to local contexts.
The WHO guidelines consolidate evidence-based recommendations for clinical management and introduce three complementary tools currently under development: an epidemic-response toolkit, a practical manual with clinical algorithms, and an online training course for health-care workers. These tools aim to support rapid diagnosis, standardized treatment, and better follow-up of patients after discharge.
Discussions highlighted common priorities for the Region, including stronger vaccination and epidemic preparedness, improved lumbar puncture training, and standardized handling of cerebrospinal-fluid samples to ensure accurate results. Participants also emphasized the need to reinforce regional laboratory networks such as SIREVA-II and ReLAVRA+, expand the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, and establish formal systems for sequelae detection and rehabilitation.
Civil-society and patient organizations were recognized as key partners in awareness-raising and post-discharge support. The meeting concluded with several joint commitments: translation of the WHO guidelines into regional languages, operational studies on chemoprophylaxis, development of follow-up tools for primary care, and the creation of a Regional Compendium of Good Practices.
“Implementing the new guidelines marks an important step toward stronger, more coordinated meningitis control across the Americas,” said Dr. Pilar Ramón-Pardo, Chief of PAHO’s Antimicrobial Resistance Special Program. “With continued collaboration between countries, laboratories, and communities, we can ensure better diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care for all people affected.
