IC17 Bacterial meningitis Flashcards
What is meningitis?
Inflammation of meninges (protective layers of the brain)
What are the possible causes of meningitis?
- infection (bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite, mycobacterium, syphilis)
- drugs (co-trimoxazole, ibuprofen)
- autoimmune disease
Describe the pathogenesis of bacterial meningitis (how one gets infected)
low immunity/prolonged exposure to likely pathogens –> predisposes one to infection and colonization –> bacteria gain entry into the body –> enters CNS and colonizes meninges in a susceptible host –> bacterial meningitis
What are some factors that predisposes one to infection and colonization by likely bacteria?
- immunosuppressed
- prolonged close contact w infected person
- travel to endemic areas
What are the various mechanisms of entry for bacteria?
- invade mucosal surface (eg. respi tract) –> hematogenous spread (blood) to brain
- spread from para-meningeal focus (otitis media, sinusitis)
- penetrating head trauma
- anatomical defects in meninges
- previous neurosurgical procedure
Therefore, what are the possible risk factors for bacterial meningitis?
- immunosuppression
- local infection (otitis media, pharyngitis, sinusitis)
- head trauma
- CNS shunt
- neurosurgical patients
- CSF fistula/leak
- congenital defects
- splenectomy
What are the patient populations that bacterial meningitis more commonly occurs in?
- male > female
- children
What are the symptoms of bacterial meningitis? (Subjective factors)
- classic triad (headache, backache, neck rigidity)
- fever, chills
- mental status change (irritability)
- photophobia
- GI: N/V, anorexia, poor feeding habits in infants
- derm: petechiae, purpura
What are the physical examinations performed that aids in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis?
- Kernig sign
lay flat on surface, raise thighs up 90 deg to body and try to extend leg fully (ie. extend hamstrong)
(+) = patient experiences back pain - Brudzinski sign
lay flat on surface, try and elevate head
(+) = hips and knees will tilt up due to severe neck stiffness - Bulging fontane in children
alot of inflammation occuring in brain
What are the cultures taken when diagnosing bacterial meningitis?
- blood culture
- CSF culture
What is the procedure performed to obtain CSF?
Lumbar puncture (LP)/spinal tap
What do you look out for when performing LP?
- elevated opening pressure
- gram-stain & culture
- composition
- PCR
By performing visual inspection of CSF, how can we tell if meningitis is bacterial in nature?
bacterial = cloudy CSF
no ifxn/viral = clear CSF
What are the components of CSF that are tested?
- glucose
- protein
- wbc
What is the normal glucose CSF:blood ratio in a healthy patient?
> 0.66
What is the glucose CSF:blood ratio in a patient with bacterial meningitis?
< 0.4
(bacteria use up glucose = low glucose)
What is the glucose CSF:blood ratio in a patient with viral meningitis?
normal (>0.66) to slightly low
What is the normal conc of protein found in CSF of a healthy patient?
< 0.4 g/L
What is the protein conc in the CSF of a patient with bacterial meningitis?
raised
> 1.5 g/L
What is the protein conc in the CSF of a patient with viral meningitis?
normal (<0.4) to slightly raised
What is the normal WBC count in the CSF of a healthy patient?
none
< 5 cells/mm3
What is the WBC count in the CSF of a patient with bacterial meningitis?
raised
>100 cells/mm3
mostly neutrophils (ie. pleocytosis)
What is the WBC count in the CSF of a patient with viral meningitis?
raised
5-1000 cells/mm3
mostly lymphocytes
What would be seen in general lab findings (eg. WBC, cRP, procalcitonin)
signs of systemic infection
Is radiology (MRI/CT brain) required for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis?
no
Then when is it indicated?
concern for brain shift during LP due to brain herniation due to mass lesion