From the Guidelines
The University of Florida Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville is the best medical center for encephalitis treatment in Florida, due to its comprehensive neurology department and advanced diagnostic capabilities. This academic medical center has specialists experienced in treating complex neurological infections like encephalitis, and their approach typically involves immediate antiviral therapy while diagnostic testing is underway 1. The hospital combines advanced diagnostic capabilities, including MRI, EEG monitoring, and specialized CSF analysis, with multidisciplinary care teams including neurologists, infectious disease specialists, and critical care physicians.
Some key considerations for encephalitis treatment include:
- Immediate antiviral therapy, often with acyclovir 10-15 mg/kg intravenously every 8 hours for 14-21 days, for suspected viral encephalitis while diagnostic testing is underway
- Access to neuroimaging (MRI and CT) and neurophysiology (EEG) under general anaesthetic if needed
- Availability of CSF diagnostic assays with results available within 24-48 hours of a lumbar puncture being performed
- Management of raised intracranial pressure, optimisation of cerebral perfusion pressure, and correction of electrolyte imbalances in patients with falling level of consciousness
The hospital's Neurointensive Care Unit provides specialized monitoring and treatment for severe cases, including management of increased intracranial pressure and seizures. Patients should seek immediate medical attention for symptoms like fever, headache, altered consciousness, or seizures, as encephalitis requires prompt treatment to prevent long-term neurological damage 1. UF Health's expertise in both common viral causes and rarer forms of encephalitis makes it particularly well-equipped to handle these complex cases.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Medical Centers for Encephalitis in Florida
There are no research papers provided that directly compare medical centers in Florida for the treatment of Encephalitis.
Treatment of Encephalitis
- The optimal treatment regimen for herpes simplex-1 (HSV-1) encephalitis is ill-defined, but current guidelines recommend the initiation of acyclovir in all suspected cases of encephalitis 2.
- Viral encephalitis is difficult to treat, but herpes simplex encephalitis has been successfully treated with acyclovir 3.
- A rare form of autoimmune encephalitis related to NMDA receptor antibody after infection by herpes simplex can be treated with corticosteroid therapy 3.
- Arthropod-borne encephalitides, such as West Nile virus encephalitis and Eastern equine encephalitis, are primarily treated with supportive measures 3.
Diagnosis of Encephalitis
- Electroencephalography (EEG) can be used for diagnosis and prognosis of acute encephalitis, with normal EEG predicting survival independently from possible confounders 4.
- EEG revealed higher proportions of periodic discharges (PDs) along with focal slowing in HSV encephalitis as compared to other etiologies 4.
- Infectious causes continue to account for the largest proportion of encephalitis cases in which a cause is identified, although autoimmune causes are increasingly recognized 5.
Outcomes of Encephalitis
- Mortality from acute encephalitis occurs in about 10% of cases, with a large proportion of survivors suffering from cognitive or physical disability 5.
- Several potentially reversible factors associated with poor prognosis have been identified, including cerebral edema, status epilepticus, and thrombocytopenia 5.