Which component of the empiric meningitis regimen is not an antibiotic?

• A. Vancomycin
• B. Ceftriaxone
• C. Dexamethasone
• D. Cefepime

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that empiric meningitis treatment combines antibiotics to kill the bacteria with an adjunctive medication to modulate the body's inflammatory response. Among the options, vancomycin, ceftriaxone, and cefepime are all antibiotics used to cover the common meningitis pathogens (including penicillin-resistant pneumococcus and Neisseria meningitidis, plus broader gram-negative coverage as needed). Dexamethasone, on the other hand, is a corticosteroid. It’s given to dampen the inflammatory response in the meninges, which can reduce brain swelling, neurologic complications, and sensorineural hearing loss in certain types of meningitis (especially pneumococcal). It’s not an antibiotic, but an adjunct that should be started before or with the first dose of antibiotics to be most effective.