Treatment of Viral Meningitis Supportive measures Acyclovir (for suspected herpes simplex or herpes zoster) and antiretroviral drugs (for HIV infection) If patients appear seriously ill and if acute bacterial seems possible (even if viral meningitis is suspected), appropriate antibiotics and corticosteroids are started immediately (without waiting for test results) and continued until bacterial meningitis is ruled out (ie, no bacteria grow in CSF cultures).