MI: CNS Infections and Meningitis Pt.2 Flashcards
Which bacterium is associated with causing encephalitis?
Listeria monocytogenes
Name two types of amoeba that cause encephalitis.
- Naegleria fowleri
- Acanthamoeba species and Balamuthia mandrillaris
NOTE: these amoebae spread by direct extension (e.g. through the cribiform plates)
up your nose - swimming in the baths of bath
still, stagnant water
What is toxoplasmosis and how is it spread?
- Obligate intracellular parasite
- Spread via oral, transplacental or organ transplant route
How do bacteria that cause brain abscesses tend to spread?
Direct extension
(e.g. from otitis media, mastoiditis or paranasal sinuses)
List some organisms that can cause brain abscesses.
- Staphylococci
- Streptococci
- Gram-negative organisms (mainly in neonates)
- TB
- Actinomyces and Nocardia species
Name a common spinal infection.
Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis
How can pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis spread?
Direct open spinal trauma from infections in adjacent structures
What are some long-term consequences of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis?
- Permanent neurologic defects
- Significant spinal deformity
- Death
List some risk factors for pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis.
- Age
- IVDU - staph aureus
- Long-term systemic steroids
- Diabetes mellitus
- Organ transplantation
- Cancer
- Malnutrition
Compare the use of MRI and CT in CNS infections.
MRI is better than CT at detecting parenchymal abnormalities such as abscesses and infarctions
CT can be useful for looking at raised ICP
List some other useful tests for suspected meningitis.
- Blood culture - typical
- Blood PCR - aseptic
- Throat swab - Meningococus, Strep. Pneumo
Strep Pneumo (1in5) and Meningococcus (1in20) carried in nasopharynx
What studies can be done with CSF?
- Colour/clarity
- Cell counts
- Chemistry (protein and glucose)
- Stains (Gram, auramine, Inda Ink etc.)
- Cultures
- PCR
Describe the typical CSF analysis results of:
- Bacterial meningitis
- Aseptic meningitis
- Tuberculous meningitis
Bacterial meningitis:
- Turbid
- High polymorphs
- High protein
- Low glucose
Aseptic meningitis:
- Clear
- High lymphocytes
- High protein
- Normal glucose
Tuberculous meningitis:
- Clear
- High lymphocytes
- High protein
- Low glucose
Abnormal WCC in CSF >5
Describe the Gram-stain and microscopic appearance of:
- S. pneumonia
- N.meningitidis
- L. monocytogenes
- TB
- Cryptococcus
- S. pneumonia = Gram-positive alpha-haemolytic diplococci
- N.meningitidis = Gram-negative non-haemolytic diplococci
- L. monocytogenes = Gram-positive rods
- TB = Stains positively with Ziehl-Neelsen (red and blue)
-
Cryptococcus = Stains positively with India Ink (appears like an orbit - yeast in the middle with a capsule around the outside)
Does not gram stain
What is another key clinical feature of Cryptococcal meningitis?
High opening pressure