Meningitis encephalitis-Table 1 Flashcards
Once S. pneumo and N. meningitidis are inside CNS- why are they able to survive so well?
The level of complement proteins and other immune cells are insufficient.
What ages are at the most risk for meningitis?
65 y.o.
What sources of immunosuppression put a patient at increased risk of meningitis?
S/p splenectomy
Malignancy
DM
Immunosuppressive disease/drugs
What are the acute complications of meningitis?
Shock
Seizures
Increased ICP
Intracranial/subdural abscess
What are the sequelae of meningitis?
Focal neurologic deficits Seizure disorder Impaired cognition Impaired intellectual functioning Gait disturbances
What pathogen of meningitis has the highest mortality?
Listeria
What factors are associated with increased mortality?
Delay in antimicrobial therapy Altered mental status on admission Seizures Hypotension Increased intracranial pressure Extremes of age (neonate or > 50 years) Mechanical ventilation
What are the common pathogens in neonates under 1 month? Why are these bugs a concern?
S. agalactiae (GBS) E. coli L. monocytogenes Klebsiella spp. These are all normal flora of the vaginal tract
What are the common pathogens in patients 2-50
N. meningitidis
S. pneumoniae
H. influenza
Gm positive cocci in pairs and chains
S. Agalactiae
Gm negative rods (lactose positive)
E. coli
Gm positive rods
L. monocytogenes
Gm negative rods
H influenza
Gm positive diplococcic
S. pneumo
Gm negative cocci
N. meningitidis
Clinical presentation of meningitis
Fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion or altered mental status, lethargy, malaise,
seizures, vomiting, Kernig’s sign, Brudzinski’s sign, petechiae, purpura
What is the triad of symptoms that 44% have?
Fever, neck stiffness and altered mental status
95% of people will have two classic symptoms and/ or what other finding?
Headache
severe stiffness of the hamstrings causes an inability to straighten the leg when the knees are flexed to 90 degrees
Kernig’s sign
severe neck stiffness causes a patient’s hips and knees to flex when the neck is flexed
Brudzinski’s sign
How do you diagnose meningitis?
Clinical evaluation and lumbar puncture
What do you examine from LP
Analysis, gram stain and culture preferred
Which patients require CT prior to LP, and why?
Severe immunocompromised History of CNS disease New onset seizure Papilledema Focal neurologic deficit Performing LP could drop their ICP too dramatically and cause a brain herniation. CT is performed to rule out mass lesion or increased ICP.
What test do you perform if you suspect viral meningitis?
PCR of CSF—can get results in 4 hours
What findings will you have in CSF for bacterial meningitis?
WBC>1000
>80% PMN
>100 protein
What findings will you have for aseptic meningitis?
WBC 5-500
>50% lymphocytes (aseptic is usually viral—lymphocytes react to viruses)
30-150 protein
What are the goals of therapy in meningitis?
Intiate prompt empiric abx coverage
Ameliorate signs and symptoms
Eradicate infection
Prevent development of neurologic sequelae
What is empiric therapy for
Ampicillin + cefotaxime
Empiric therapy for meningitis for 2-50 years old
Vanco + 3rd generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone)
Empiric therapy for meningitis over 50 years old
Vanco + 3rd generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone) + ampicillin
What microbe does the addition of ampicillin in empriric therapy over 50 cover?
Listeria
If someone has indications for CT scan, what should you order STAT while waiting for negative CT to come back?
Blood cultures
What bugs does ceftriaxone cover (in concern to meningitis)?
S. pneumo, H. influenza and N. meningitidis
Why is vancomycin given in empiric therapy for meningitis?
Used in combo with 3rd generation cephalosporin for empiric therapy to cover the emergence of resistant S. Pneumo
What dose do you give of ceftriaxone with meningitis?
2 g IV q 12 hours
What dose of Vanco do you give with meningitis?
15 mg/kg with interval based on renal function
What dose of ampicillin do you give with meningitis?
2g IV q 4 hours
What are your options for empiric therapy for PCN/cephalosporin allergy?
Moxifloxacin
Meropenem (Mero/vanco)
In empiric therapy of meningitis, what medicine is given to help reduce neurologic sequelae
dexamethasone
In what situations should you add in dexamethasone?
In children under 2 months with bacterial meningitis, especially if they have not been vaccinated
AND in adults with pneumococcal meningitis
When do you start dexamethasone?
Should be given with or right before first dose of Abx. Start with empiric treatment, and if CSF culture comes back with S.penumo or H influenza- continue, if neither of those bugs, stop
What dose and how long should you give dexamethasone?
0.15 mg/kg q6h x 2-42 days
What are targeted standard therapy options for S. Pneumo
Pen G (IV—po doesn’t have good bioavailability) OR ampicillin OR ceftriaxone for sensitive organisms Vanco + Ceftriaxone for resistance
What are targeted standard therapy options for L. monocytogenes?
Ampicillin or Penicillin G
What are targeted standard therapy options for S. agalactiae?
Ampicillin or Pen G
What are targeted standard therapy options for S. aureus (MSSA)?
Nafcillin or oxacillin
What are targeted standard therapy options for S. aureus (MRSA)?
Vancomycin
What are targeted standard therapy options for S. epidermidis?
Vancomycin
What are targeted standard therapy options for Enterococcus spp (ampicillin sensitive)
Amp + gent
What are targeted standard therapy options for enterococcus spp. (ampicillin resistant)?
Vanco + gent
What are targeted standard therapy options for enterococcus spp (amp and vanc resistant)
linezolid
What are targeted standard therapy options for N meningitidis
Pen G or amp or ceftriaxone
What are targeted standard therapy options for H influenza – beta lactamase negative
Ampicillin
What are targeted standard therapy options for H. influenza - beta lactamase positive
Ceftriaxone
What is the targeted standard therapy options for E. coli or other enterobacteracieae
Ceftriaxone
What are targeted standard therapy options for P. aeruginosa
Ceftriaxone
What are causative agents for viral meningitis?
Enterovirus- Summer/fall West nile Measles/mumps/rubella, polio Varicella-zoster virus Herpes simplex virus (HSV2)
Treatment of viral meningitis
Supportive care, Acyclovir
Other causative agents of aseptic meningitis?
Fungal (Cryptococcal meningitis) Parasitic Rare TB meningitis Lyme disease Syphilis Rocky Mountain spotted fever