How long does it take to cure bacterial meningitis once antibiotics start?

Ten days: Assuming you caught it early and are on the correct antibiotic then the patient is cured after 10 to 14 days. If it is a particularly bad bacteria or if antibiotics started too late then healing may take months. Permanent hearing loss or other brain injury can occur.

It varies: Antibiotics may work very quickly, but in some cases initial antibiotics might be changed based upon sensitivity of the particular bacteria to the prescribed antibiotics. It takes time to grow the bacteria in the laboratory and then to test antibiotics against it. Even if the bacteria are cleared quickly, the patient outcome can vary greatly, ranging from minimal/no to severe neurologic issues.

Depends: Some germs are exquisitely sensitive to antibiotics and if stared very early in the disease may clear it in a week. (Meningococcal caught on day 1) Other forms of meningitis like that of tuberculosis may take months. The common treatment plan for many is 10-14 days of IV meds, followed by a period of close observation after meds stop.