Neural Infections Flashcards
What are some direct routes of nerual infection?
inoculation (ex. penetrating injury)
trans-neural (ex. HSV)
What are some indirect modes of neural infection?
hematogenous (ex. septicemia)
Color of CSF in acute bacterial meningitis?
turbid
Protein level in CSF of those suffering from acute bacterial meningitis?
very high
Pressure levels in acute bacterial meningitis?
moderately high
Describe healing complications in acute bacterial meningitis.
May heal with complete resolution but can heal with fibrosis and hydrocephalus
Describe how the gross pathology or how the brain appears when one has acute bacterial meningitis.
purulent yellow-tan clouding of meninges and swelling/ hemorrhagic appearance of brain
What are some origins of acute abscess?
sinusitis, penetrating trauma, mastoiditis
Heamatogenous
Location: is anywhere in brain
Presentation of acute abscess? (signs symptoms)
fever, headache, lethargy
Seizure
signs of increased intracranial pressure
Which neural infection is Lumbar puncture for sure contraindicated?
acute brain abscess
What are the causitive agents we discussed for chronic bacterial meningitis?
Tuberculosis
Syphilis
Neuroborelliosis** (a.k.a Lyme disease of the CNS)
Tuberculous meningitis is common in what type of patients?
HIV/AIDS
What are the lesion types in Tuberculous meningitis?
Solitary Tuberculoma (caseous encapsulated mass)
Multiple Tuberculoma of the brain and /or meninges (Associated with miliary Tb)
Color of CSF in tuberculous meningitis?
turbid
Protein level of CSF in Tuberculous meningitis?
very high
What specialized test can you use to ID tuberculous meningitis?
Ziehl Neelson stain positive for AFB
Color of CSF in one who has neurosyphilis?
clear
Protein in CSF in one with Neurosyphilis.
moderately high
What specialized test can you use for Neurosyphilis.
VDRL
What is neuroborreliosis caused from?
secondary to bites from lxodes (hard tick) Lyme disease
CSF color presentation and protein levels in a patient with Neuroborreliosis.
CSF: clear
Protein in CSF: moderately high
Special tests that can be used to ID Neuroborreliosis.
Elisa and Western blot for spirochete DNA
Fungal meningitis usually is present in what type of patients?
immunocompromised
Common causative agents in fungal meningitis.
Cryptococcus neoformans esp. in AIDS patients
Other organisms include: Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides
acquired by inhaling soil or air
contaminated with bird and/or bat
droppings.
Presentation Fungal meningitis.
Insidious with headache, vomiting, nausea, diplopia and lethargy. Patient afebrile.
CSF color and protein levels in fungal infections.
Color: clear to slightly turbid
Protein: moderately high
Origin of acute viral meningitis/encephalitis.
Primary respiratory infection, Fecal-oral infection (e.g., Polio)
Animal/Bird host-human transmission (e.g., Rabies, West Nile virus encephalitis)
Blood borne: Viraemia
Which virus can cause meningitis?
Herpes Zoster
Herpes simplex
Where does HZV lie dormant?
in DRG and reappears immunocompromised patients
Viral meningitis CSF color and protein levels.
Color: clear or slightly turbid
Protein: normal or slightly high
Because you can’t do a Gram Stain to find a virus in a patient what other test can be done?
PCR
Can sudden death occur in a patient who has cranial poliomyelitis?
yes
Another name for prion disease.
spongiform encephalopathies
CJD is a presentation of what type of disease?
Prion disease
What marker can you look for to diagnose someone with prions disease?
14-3-3 marker for neuronal loss in CJD
