CNS Infections Flashcards
Meningitis
-inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord
What are the meninges comprised of
dura matter- outer layer
arachnoid matter- contains blood vessels
pia matter- covers brain
What is it called when the inflammation develops in the meninges and the brain parenchyma
meningoencephalitis
Most common causes of meningitis
bacterial (acute bacterial meningitis)
viral (aseptic meningitis)
Less common causes of meningitis
- fungal
- bacterial aseptic
- parasitic
- non infectious causes (drug induced, systemic disease)
Cardinal symptoms of acute bacterial meningitis
- headache (unlike any other HA)
- fever
- neck stiffness
- altered mental status
Things that cause drug induced meningitis
- bactrim
- cipro
- flagyl
- amox/penicillin
- keflex
- NSAIDs
- ranitidine
- tegretol
Other signs and symptoms of meningitis
- nausea/vomiting
- photophobia
- focal neurologic deficits
- seizures
- dermatologic findings (petechial, purpuric rash)
What nerves are typically affected if pt has a focal neurologic deficit with acute bacterial meningitis
III, VI, VII, VIII
What type of meningitis presents with focal neurological findings
acute bacterial!
secondary to ischemia and infarction d/t cerebral infectious thrombophlebitis
Seizures=
more encephalitis
first place you typically see petechiae
palate
Risk factors for meningitis
- > 50
- URI, otitis media, sinusitis, mastioditis
- head trauma, recent neurosurgery
- crowded living conditions
- immunocompromised
- lack of immunization
What is the typical etiology for ABM
encapsulated bacteria colonized in the naso-oropharynx that penetrates the intravascular space
Most common pathogens of ABM
- strep pneumo
- neisseria meningitidis
- H flu type B
- group B strep
- listeria monocytogenes
Other causes of ABM (less common)
- secondary to bacteremia in remote focus (endocarditis, pneumonia)
- neurosurgery (CSF shunt revision or insertion)
Presentation of aseptic meningitis
similar to ABM but usually benign course which resolves on its own or without specific therapy
Aseptic meningitis is most commonly what
viral
Most common cause of viral meningitis
enterovirus (in summer/early fall)
Most common cause of fungal aseptic meningitis
cryptococcus
Causes of viral aseptic meningitis
- enterovirus
- HSV 1/2
- lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (mice)
- VZV
- CMV, EBV, HHV, HIV, polio, coxsackie
Causes of fungal aseptic meningitis
- cryptococcus
- histoplasma
- candida
- coccidioides
Parasitic causes of aseptic meningitis
- toxoplasmosis
- cysticercosis
Bacterial causes of aseptic meningitis
- partially treated meningitis
- TB
- Lyme
- erlichia
- syphillis
Systemic diseases that can cause aseptic meningitis
- sarcoid
- SLE
- Wegners granulomatosis
- MS
- GBS
- leukemia/lymphoma
- Behcets
Diagnostic studies for meningitis
- CBC
- Chem 7
- lactate (if really sick)
- CRP,ESR
- blood cultures
- LP
- Head CT
Definitive diagnostic test for meningitis
lumbar puncture
When do you do a head CT before doing an LP
if you are concerned your patient has elevated ICP
puts pt at risk for possible herniation
What types of things would make you want a head CT before doing an LP
- AMS
- seizure within 1 week
- known CNS lesion
- focal neuro findings on exam
- papilledema
- > 60
- immunocompromised
IF you start IV abx how long do you have to do an LP
2-4 hrs or CSF sterilization can occur and may effect gram stain
CSF WBCs >500 –>
likely bacterial source
CSF findings in bacterial meningitis
- WBCs 100 to 5000
- PMNs
- decreased glucose
- increased protein
CSF findings for viral meningitis
- WBC 10 to 500
- lymphocytes
- normal glucose
- elevated protein
CSF findings for fungal meningitis
- WBC 0 to 500
- lymphocytic
- glucose normal or decrease
- elevated protein
Treatment for meningitis
- abx
- steriods, prior to or with first dose of abx (dexmethasone)
- antivirals?
What would you use to treat elevated ICP in meningitis
- mannitol
- mild hyperventilation
- neurosurg consult
- ? hypertonic saline
ABX for pts 16-50 with meningitis
vanco + 3rd generation ceph
ABX for pts over 50 with meningitis
vanco + 3rd gen ceph +ampicillin
ABX for immunocompromised with meningitis
vanco + 3rd gen ceph + ampicillin
Neurosurg, head trauma, cerebrospinal trauma pts with meningitis ABX
vanco + 3rd gen ceph + anti pseudomonal or meropenem