Meningitis

Question 1

Meningitis

Answer 1

Infection of the members of the pia matter and arachnoid matter of the brain or spinal cord

Question 2

Meningitis general concepts

Answer 2

Meningitis should be considered in any patient with fever and neurologic symptoms, especially if their history of other infection or had trauma
Acute bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency

Question 3

Meningitis Causes

Answer 3

80–90% of cases, meningitis is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, H influenzae, or Neisseria meningitis

Question 4

Meningitis Signs/Symptoms

Answer 4

Fever
Severe headache
Nausea and vomiting
Nuchal rigidity
Positive Koenigs sign
Positive Bruzdzinski sign
Sensitive eyes to light
Seizures

Question 5

Kernig’s Sign

Answer 5

Pain and spasms of the hamstring muscles

Question 6

Brudzinki’s sign

Answer 6

Legs flex at both the hips and knees in response to flexing of the head and neck to the chest

Question 7

Meningitis Lab/Diagnostics

Answer 7

Lumbar puncture should be performed as soon as diagnosis is suspected
CSF will be cloudy or yellow in color
- Elevated pressure
- Elevated protein
-Decreased glucose
-presence of WBC

** Viral: normal protein and glucose

CT of head

Question 8

Meningitis Management

Answer 8

<= 50
N.meningitidis
S. Pneumoniae
** Vancomycin plus ceftriaxone

> 50
S.pneumoniae
N.meningitidis
Gram neg (E. Coli, Klebsiella, Enterobactor)
L. Monocytogenes
**Vancomycin plus ampicillin plus ceftriaxone