Infection Flashcards
encephalitis
inflammation/infection of brain
meningitis
inflammation/infection of meninges
hydrocephaly
accumulation of CSF due to..
(communicating) deficient resorption
(internal) obstruction of the flow pathway through the brain
hydrocephaly ex-vaccuo
brain shrinks and CSF replaces it
meningismus
resistance to neck flexion due to pain when inflamed meninges are stretched
Kernig’s sign
involuntary flexion of the knee when lower limb is flexed at the hip–occurs because the inflamed meninges are stretched by stretch of the sacral nerve roots
pleocytosis
presence of excessive number of white blood cells in spinal fluid
Brudzinski’s sign
involuntary flexion of the knee when the neck is flexed; this occurs because the inflamed meninges are stretched by the flexing of the neck and tesnion can be relieved osmewhat by taking tension off of the sacral nerve roots by flexing knees
parameningeal
processes (particularly infections) that occur outside of the dura but which are adjacent to it (producing some signs-particularly in the CSF) of inflammation
most common cause of acute meningitis
bacteria
empyema
pus or abscess in subdural or epidural space
signs of bacterial meningitis
fever
meningismus
>7 WBC/cubic mm of CSF
newborn organisms for BM
group b strep
e.coli
listeria onocytogenes
childhood organisms for BM
neisseria meningitis
strep pneumonia
elderly organisms for BM
strep pneumoniae
listeria monocytogenes
organisms for neurosurgerical patients
stap aureus
ways to get into brain
nasopharyngeal colonization blood stream-->BBB entry into CSF by leak/cribiform plate exudate in subarachnoid can inflame blood vessels and result in stroke
where does exudate/pus develop?
subarachnoid space
exudate is
yellow
exudate is comprised mostly of
neutrophilic white blood cells–>swelling of brain and obstruction of free movement of CSF–> increase in ICP–>herniation
can also result in small strokes due to inflammed arteries
symptoms of meningitis
fever, headache, meningismus
kernig, brudzinski, photophobia, vomiting
toxic appearing–>increased ICP
first thing you do when you think meningitis
antibiotics prophylacticly! before any other lengthy test
what should be your first test
CT before spinal taP!
why CT before spinal tab
patients with abscesses should not be spinal tapped, but should not delay LP for any prolonged period just to get a scan
CSF of bacterial meningitis
cloudy high pressure WBC: high RBC: variable protein high glucose low
go to antibiotic
ceftriaxone
antibiotic for listeria
ampicilin
resistant organisms
vancomycin
neurosurgical patients
vancomysin
what other treatment can you give
steroids to reduce vasogenic swelling due to inflammation
prognosis
3-20%
CSF of viral meningitis
clear normal pressure (<5 protein low glucose normal
viral meningitis symptoms
same, but less severe
no impairment of consciousness
therapy of viral meningitis
bedrest, fluids, analgesia
fungal meningitis is ___ but ___
rare, but severe