CNS Meninigitis Flashcards
Define Encephalitis:
Inflammation and infection of the brain PARENCHYMA.
Define Vasculitis:
Inflammation of the vasculature, can be primary cerebral or secondary to systemic Vasculitis.
Presentation of Meningitis:
Fever Neck Stiffness Altered mental status Rash Seizure Focal neuro findings Sepsis
Urgent orders with Meningitis:
Head CT without contrast
Lumbar puncture
Empiric antibiotics
Decadron and antibiotics
If the client has symptoms of meningitis less then 48 hours it is usually due to?
Bacterial
Subacute meningitis is likely due to
Viral infection
Chronic symptoms of Meningitis is due to?
Fungal
Parasite
Non infectious source
Risk factors for Meningitis
HIV
Immunocompromised
Travel
Vaccinations
Thing to assess for when a client presents with meningitis
VS HEENT: facial rash ( zoster) Thrush ( HIV) Parotiditis (MUMPS) Mastoid tenderness Dentition ( abscess)
What is Budzinskis sign
Neck flexion
Leads to flexion of the hips/knees
Kernels sign is :
Flex hip and knee with thigh against abdomen then extend the knee leads to pain and resistance is a positive sign.
Imaging to be done with suspected meningitis
Head CT
MRI with contrast
EEG
What should be done first before a lumbar puncture
R/O a head bleed
What is a normal CSF reading
Cells : 0-5 lymphocyte Glucose : 45-85 Protein: 15-45 Opening pressure : 70-80 Color: clear RBC: 0 WBC: 0-5
Bacterial meningitis you will see in the CSF fluid:
Cells : 200-20,000 neutrophils
Glucose : LOW 50
Opening Pressure : Markedly elevated
Viral Meningitis CSF fluid will have
Cells: 25-2000 lymphocytes
Glucose: Normal or low
Protein: HIGH>50
Opening pressure : slightly elevated
Fungal Meningitis CSF would look like :
Cells WBC: 100-1000 lymphocytes
Glucose: LOW 50
Opening pressure Moderately elevated
Common micro organisms with meningitis
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Treatment for meningitis is
Empiric ( from your clinical diagnosis)
Vancomycin, cefriaxone
If immunocompromised add
Ampicillin
If the meningitis is viral you treat with
Acyclovir
Every meningitis client receive what medication with the antibiotics.
Dexamethasone
When C/S returns treat meningitis
Based on the culture
Define Meningitis:
Inflammation and infection of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Wernicke Ecephalopathy what are the triad of symptoms:
Confusion
Ataxia
Nystagmus