7. Infections of the CNS Flashcards
Glass test, non blanching is….
A rash that does not fade under pressure is a sign of meningococcal septicaemia
Clinical features of meningitis?
Headache, sore throat, drowsiness
Intravascular coagulation, endotoxaemia, shock, multi-organ failure, raised intracranial pressure
Rapid onset fever, photophobia, neck stiffness (typically viral)
Level of consciousness falls (typically viral)
Petechial or purpuric rash (typically viral)
Symptoms of meningitis mainly seen in babies?
Tense/bulging soft spot on their head
Refusing to feed
Irritable when picked up, with a high pitched or moaning cry
A stiff body with jerky movements, or else floppy and lifeless
Which features of meningitis are more specific a viral origin?
Rapid onset fever, photophobia, neck stiffness (typically viral)
Level of consciousness falls (typically viral)
Petechial or purpuric rash (typically viral)
Encephalitis is…
Inflammation of the brain
Sepsis is…
Whole body inflammation when your body goes into a system inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
3 methods of invasion into the CNS by micro organised?
BBB
B- CSF BARRIER
Direct spread
Mechanism of invasion to CNS by micro-organisms via the BBB?
Breach results in….
– Created by tightly packed endothelial cells lining the blood
vessels in the brain.
– Endothelial cells mechanically supported by thin basement membrane.
– Breach by infectious agents causes ENCEPHALITIS.
Mechanism of invasion to CNS by micro-organisms via B-CSF barrier?
Breach results in….
– Similar barrier at arachnoid membrane and in ventricles. – Breach by infectious agents causes meningitis.
Mechanism of invasion to CNS by micro-organisms via direct spread?
From sinuses, otitis media and skull fractures
What laboratory investigations should be done to confirm a diagnosis for infections of the CNS?
Blood test, such as:
- Culture
- NAAT
- Glucose
- FBC
- U&E
- Clotting
CSF test, such as:
- White cell count
- Gram stain
- Ziehl-neelsen stain (
- India ink
- NAAT
Which diseases does the ziehl neelsen stain and the india ink stain identify?
Ziehl-neelsen= Tb
India ink= India ink staining of cerebrospinal fluid is a sensitive test for the presence of cryptococcus neoformans.
When should a lumbar puncture not be done?
Supratentorial and infratentoral pressure difference
Infeciton of the skin overlying the needle entry site
Name 4 bacterial infections causing meningitis?
Neisseria meningitidis
Haemophilus influenzae
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Name 5 viral infections causing meningitis?
3 x enteroviruses
1 x herpes
1 x paramyxovirus
Enteroviruses:
• Echovirus
• Coxsackie viruses A & B
• poliovirus
Herpes viruses:
• Herpes simplex 1& 2
Paramyxovirus:
• Complication of mumps
Fungal infections causing meningitis
Cryptococcus neoformans
** India ink stain**
3 protozoa infections causing meningitis?
Amoebae
Naegleria
Acanthamoeba
Characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis as a meningococcal disease: Gram.... Infects only.... where does it lie.... Transmission... Strains...
- Gram negative. Intracellular diplococus
- Only infects humans. Exists as normal microbiota in nasopharynx
- Transmission by droplet spread or direct contact from carriers
- 5 strains – A, B, C, W135, Y