CNS Infections Flashcards
Pathogenesis of bacterial infection?
- bacterial invasion
- Production of cytokines ( e.g TNF, IL-1
- Increased Blood Brain Barrier Permeability (BBBP)
- Hypercoagulability
- Raised intracranial pressure (vasogenic, cytotoxic and interstitial oedema)
- Reduced Cerebral Blood Flow
Clinical features of acute bacterial infection in neonates?
- Irritability
- Poor feeding
- A bulging fontanelle
- Hypo/hyperthermia
Clinical features of ABI in older children?
- Fever
- Signs of raised intracranial pressure (headache, nausea and vomiting)
- signs of meningeal irritation (neck stiffness, Kernig’s sign and Brudzinski’s sign)
- Signs of cortical involvement (encephalopathy, coma)
Risk factors of ABI in neonates?
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Low birth weight
- Male babies
- Difficulty delivery with extensive manipulations
Causative organisms for ABI in neonates?
- E. Coli
- Group B Streptococcus
- L. monocytogenes
- Klebsiella
- Enterobacter
Causative organisms in infants (1 month - 2 years)?
- Group B Streptococcus
- S. Pneumoniae
- H. Influenzae
- N. meningitidis
- Salmonella species
Causative organisms in childhood and adolescence?
- S. Pneumoniae
- N. Meningitidis
- H. Influenzae type B
What is strep. pneumoniae?
Gram-positive diplococcus
When should you suspect strep. pneumoniae?
Should be suspected in meningitis associated with:
1. Skull fracture
2. Paranasal sinuses
3. Frontal bone CSF leak
4. Otorrhoea
Medical conditions to suspect strep. pneumoniae?
- Sickle cell patients (functional asplenia)
- Immunodeficiency e.g HIV infection
What is neisseria meninigitidis?
- Gram negative intracellular organism
- Epidemic forms are A and C
- Other groups are A. B, C, D, X, Y, Z and W135
Clinical features of N. meningitides?
- Very rapid onset (a few hours)
- Petechial and purpuric rash can rapidly progress to purpura fulminans
- Petechial rash contains organisms
- Endotoxin can induce shock, bilateral adrenal haemorrhage and DIC
What is hemophilus influenzae?
Gram-negative pleomorphic bacillus
Onset of meningitis is moderately slow
Epidemiology of H. influenzae?
Found in situations of overcrowding and splenoctemized patients
Common in infants and pre-school children less than 2 years old
Sequelae associated with H. influenzae?
- Subdural effusions
- Hearing loss
- Epileptic fits
- Mental retardation
- Cerebral infarctions
CSF analysis of bacterial meningitis?
white cells - 100 – 50,000
Neutrophil predominant
glucose - 1.1 – 1.6
<0.5 = severe infection
protein - Mild to moderately increased
CSF analysis for viral meningitis?
white cells - 25 – 500
Lymphocytes predominant
glucose - normal
protein - mildly increased
CSF analysis of TBM?
white cells - 25 – 100 (can go up to 500)
Lymphocyte predominant but neutrophils predominate early
glucose - Less than 2.2 – 2.7
Usually less than 0.5
protein - moderately increased
Complications of acute bacterial meningitis?
- Subdural effusions
– mainly HiB (to a lesser extent - N. meningitidis and S. Pneumoniae) - Epileptic fits
– focal or generalized. - Cerebral oedema
– vasogenic and cytotoxic - Hydrocephalus
– esp in neonatal meningitis - TBM, S. pneumonia (Arachnoditis and occlusion of CSF flow) - Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH)
– 15 – 20%; (water intoxication: irritability and convulsions) - Cranial palsies
– most commonly sensorineural hearing loss; - Hemiplegias – vasculitis and infarction
- Brain abscess
Treatment for acute bacterial meningitis?
- Antibiotics
- Prevent/treat complications
- General care of unconscious child
- Steroids (Dexamethasone 10-15 minutes before initiation of antibiotics in children more than 2 months)
What is the Herson-Todd scoring?
prediction of morbidity in acute bacterial meningitis
Scoring of Herson-Todd?
Factor on admission - 3
Severe coma - 2
Hypothermia - 2
Seizures - 2
Shock (BP<60 mmHg) - 1
Age <12 months - 1
CSF WBC < 1000/cu mm - 1
Haemoglobin <11g/100ml - 1
CSF glucose <1mmol/L - 0.5
Symptoms for more than 3 days - 0.5
- score of 5.5 or greater is associated with a poor prognosis
Prevention of N.meningitidis?
- Rifampicin 10mg/kg twice a day for 2 days
- Ceftriaxone 250mg imi sta (adults); 125mg imi stat children
Prevention of H. influenzae?
Rifampicin 20mg/kg twice a day for 4 days; < 1month 10mg/kg twice a day for 4 days.
Prophylaxis of acute bacteria meningitis for close contacts?
- H. Influenza conjugated vaccine
- pneumococcal vaccine.
What is a brain abscess?
Localized suppuration within the brain tissue
How brain abscesses develop?
Organisms
– via blood steam or extension from nearby focus (paranasal sinuses, middle ear)
Most common organisms that cause brain abscesses?
- Streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, H. influenzae, Bacteroides
- Anaerobes in 25% of cases