Meningitis Flashcards
Give the 5 most common bacteria that cause meningitis:
1) Neisseria meningitidis
2) Streptococcus pneumonia
3) Haemophilus influenzae
4) Group B Strep (Strep. agalactiae)
5) Listeria monocytogenes
What two bacteria are associated with bacterial meningitis in neonates?
1) Group B Strep
2) Listeria monocytogenes
Is N. meningitidis gram positive or gram negative?
gram negative
What is meningococcal meningitis?
N. meningitidis bacterial infection of the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid
What is meningococcal septicaemia?
when the N. meningitidis bacteria infection is in the blood stream (here, you will see the non-blanching rash)
Give the 3 most common viral causes of meningitis:
1) Enteroviruses e.g. Coxsackie virus
2) Herpes simplex virus
3) Varicella zoster virus
What drug is used to treat viral meningitis?
aciclovir
What test can be done on a CSF sample to check for viral meningitis?
viral PCR
Give 7 symptoms associated with meningitis:
1) fever
2) photophobia
3) headache
4) seizures
5) vomiting
6) neck stiffness
7) altered consciousness
In what disease would meningitis present with a non-blanching rash?
meningococcal septicaemia
Give 4 meningitis signs and symptoms seen in neonates:
1) hypotonia (absence of muscle tone)
2) poor feeding
3) lethargy
4) bulging fontanelle
Name two special tests for meningitis:
1) Kernig’s test
2) Brudzinski’s test
Describe Kernig’s test for meningitis:
lay the patient on their back and flex one hip and knee to 90 degree - then slowly straighten the knee while the hip is flexed - this will stretch the meninges and create pain and resistance in meningitis
Describe Brudzinskii’s sign for meningitis:
lay the patient flat on their back and gently lift their head - in meningitis, the patient will involuntarily flex their knees and hips
At which vertebral level does the spinal cord end?
L1/L2
