Exam 2: Disease of NS--Bacterial Flashcards
What type of environment is the CNS?
axenic
What are 4 ways a pathogen may access the CNS?
- Breaks in bones and meninges
- Medical procedures
- Travel from PNS to CNS
- Infect and kill cells of meninges, causing meningitis
What are the four bacterial diseases of the nervous system we are covering?
- Meningitis
- Leprosy
- Botulism
- Tetanus
What are the two ways bacteria cause nervous system disease?
- INFECT cells of NS
2. Bacteria growing elsewhere RELEASE toxins that affect neurons
What serious condition is characterized by a sudden high fever, severe stiff neck (nuchal ridigity), severe HAs, and severe meningeal inflammation?
Bacterial Meningitis
What signs and symptoms may someone with Bacterial Meningitis have?
- high fever, nuchal rigidity, severe HA
- severe meningeal inflammation
- vomiting
- photophobia and phonophobia
- disorientation
T/F. Bacterial Meningitis has a slow onset.
False–it CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY–death could occur within 24 hours
Within 24 hours of someone with Bacterial Meningitis what can happen?
Encephalitis–> which can result in behavioral changes, coma, and death
What are the 5 species that cause 90% of bacterial meningitis cases and what age they are related to?
- Steptococcus agalactiae (infants < 3 months)
- Haemophilus influenzae b (children < 5 yrs)
- Neisseria meningitidis (MC <20)
- Listeria monocytogenes (pregnant women, elderly, babies)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (MC one in adults)
What bacterial organism is most likely to cause meningitis in premature babies and infants under 3 months? How does the infant get it?
Streptococcus agalactiae
at birth via passage through birth canal or from health care provider
(it is part of normal vaginal flora)
What bacterial organism is most likely to cause meningitis in children under 5 and most often they are under 18 months? How is it transmitted?
Haemophilus influenzae b
transmitted via respiratory droplets
What is the most common bacterial meningitis in adults?
“The Pneumococcus”
Streptococcus pneumoniae
How is Streptococcus pneumoniae, also know as “the Pneumococcus”, transmitted?
via respiratory droplets or opportunistic
it is present in the throat of 75% of humans
What type of bacterial meningitis creates the biggest risk for pregnant women? What other groups are at risk too?
Listeria monocytogenes
babies and elderly
How is Listeria monocytogenes. which causes bacterial meningitis, transmitted?
contaminated food and drink
pregnant women at biggest risk, also babies and elderly
What organism is known to cause “The Meningococcus”? What else it is referred to as?
Neisseria meningitidis
meningococcal meningitis
What organism causes the typical symptoms of bacterial meningitis and a characteristic purple spotted rash?
Neissseria meningitidis
Who is more prevalent, and by what degree, to contract Neisseria meningitidis?
college students in dorms are 23x more prevalent
What is the most common cause of meningitis in individuals under 20?
Neisseria meningitidis
How is Neisseria meningitidis spread?
via respiratory droplets
transmitted among people living in close contact
How is bacterial meningitis diagnosed? How it is treated?
symptoms and culturing of bacteria from CSF–> do a spinal tap
Tx–> with IV antibiotics, they will be hospitalized
Which is severe and which is more common b/w bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis?
Bacterial = more severe
viral = more common