Meningitis Flashcards
Acute meningitis symptoms
sore and stiff neck
headache
low-grade fever
lethargy
*in elderly, immunocompromised, or debilitated patients the only sign might be altered mental status (confusion, agitation, disorientation)
Subacute meningitis symptoms
increased intracranial pressure and altered mental status
Common CNS infections (3)
meningitis- infection in the MEMBRANE layers that cover the brain and spinal cord
encephalitis- inflammation in the brain
Myelitis- inflammation in the spinal cord (myelin sheath that covers the nerve cells of spinal cord)
Which infections may have a negative effect on the CNS?
1) soft tissue (e.g. epidural abscess is an infection inside your skull or near your spine)
2) spinal cord infections (myelitis)
What does septic or purulent (pus) meningitis indicate?
bacterial with large number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes
Aseptic meningitis
(lack of neutrophils)
viral
fungal
mycobacterial
Common bacteria in meningitis in neonates
Most often:
1) GBS: S. agalactiae
2) Streptococcus pneumoniae
3) Listeria monocytogenes (virulent foodborne pathogen)
4) E. coli
Others:
Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas spp.
Elizabethkingia meningoseptica
S. aureus
Citrobacter koseri-very rare
Other anaerobes
Common bacteria in meningitis of people all age groups
1) N. meningitidis
2) H. influenzae type B
(rates have lowered after vaccine, 6 months to 5 years)
3) Streptococcus pneumoniae (bacteria or extension of ear infection, now rare due to available vaccine)
acute meningitis with ventricular (cerebral) shunts
think of skin flora
CoNS
Corynebacterium spp.
Cutibacterium acnes
Meningitis causes by viruses
Enteroviruses
West Nile Virus
Meningitis causes by fungi/Mycobacteria
Cryptococcus neoformans
MTB
Histoplasma capsulatum
Coccidioides
Meningitis causes by parasites
Naegleria fowleri (brain eating amoeba)
Acamthamoeba spp.
Balamuthia madrillaris
