Neuro: 17.3: Meningitis Flashcards

1
Q

Which HSV type is more associated with viral meningitis?

A

HSV-2

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2
Q

If the meningitis is due to a viral cause, what will the LP findings be?

A
  • high WBCs (lymphocytes)
  • normal glucose
  • normal/increased protein
  • normal/increased opening pressure
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3
Q

Organism?

  • gram positive
  • lancet-shaped diplococci
  • encapsulated
A

Strep. pneumo

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4
Q

What layer of the meninges is tightly attached to the brain?

A

the pia mater

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5
Q

Organism?

  • family = picornavirus
  • envelope = no
  • genome = ss positive sense linear
  • capsid = icosahedral
A

Coxsackievirus

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6
Q

What is the tx for Listeria monocytogenes meningitis?

A

ampicillin

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7
Q

Dx?

  • CSF findings = high lymphocytes, low glucose
A

fungal meningitis

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8
Q

What are the 3 most common causes of meningitis in a neonate?

A
  1. Group B strep
  2. E. coli
  3. Lysteria monocytogenes
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9
Q

Organism?

  • 5–10 μm with narrow budding
  • Heavily encapsulated yeast
  • Not dimorphic
A

Cryptococcus neoformans

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10
Q

What special media is Haemophilus influenzae cultured on? Why?

A
  • chocolate agar
  • contains factor V (NAD+) and X (hematin)
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11
Q

Dx?

  • CSF findings = high lymphocytes, normal glucose
A

viral meningitis

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12
Q

What is the tx for Haemophilus influenzae meningitis?

A

ceftriaxone

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13
Q

What is the main virulence factor for Strep. pneumo?

A

the capsule

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14
Q

Organism?

  • gram positive cocci
  • beta-hemolytic
  • Hippurate positive
  • produces CAMP factor
A

Group B strep

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15
Q

Organism?

  • gram negative rod
  • fimbriae
  • K-capsule
  • LPS endotoxin
A

E. coli

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16
Q

What is the prophylaxis for Haemophilus influenzae meningitis?

A

rifampin

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17
Q

What is the standard treatment for meningitis? What if Listeria is suspected?

A
  • ceftriaxone and vancomycin empirically
  • add ampicillin if Listeria is suspected
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18
Q

What is the most common causative agent of meningitis in nonvaccinated infants?

A

H. influenzae

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19
Q

Haemophilus influenzae: IgA protease positive or negative?

A

positive

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20
Q

Neisseria meningiditis: IgA protease positive or negative?

A

positive

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21
Q

What is the gram stain and morphology of Listeria monocytogenes?

A
  • gram positive rod
  • “rocket tails”
  • tumbling
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22
Q

Organism?

  • gram positive rod
  • “rocket tails”
  • tumbling
A

Listeria monocytogenes

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23
Q

Name 5 viral causes of meningitis.

A
  1. enteroviruses (coxsackie)
  2. HSV-2
  3. HIV
  4. West Nile
  5. VZV
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24
Q

Where should you place the needle when performing an LP? Why? What is the landmark to help you?

A
  • place needle btw L3-L4 or L4-L5
  • the spinal cord ends at L2
  • landmark = the level of the iliac crest
  • *** “to keep the cord alive, keep the needle between L3 and L5”
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25
Q

Strep. pneumo: optochin sensitive or resistant?

A

sensitive

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26
Q

What is the gram stain and morphology of Haemophilus influenzae?

A
  • gram negative coccobacillary rod
27
Q

What does Neisseria meningiditis ferment?

A
  • maltose and glucose
  • *** “MeninGococci ferment Maltose and Glucose”
28
Q

What is the most common causative agent of meningitis in adults and elderly pts?

A

Strep. pneumo

29
Q

Where is the arachnoid mater found?

A

btw the dura (on the skull) and the pia (on the brain)

30
Q

Why does meningitis cause nuchal rigidity?

A

bend neck = stretch meninges = pain

31
Q

What is the most common causative agent of meningitis in children and teenagers?

A

Neisseria meningiditis

32
Q

What is the diagnostic test for meningitis?

A

lumbar puncture

33
Q

What are the leptomeninges?

A

the light meninges- the Pia and arachnoid together

34
Q

If the meningitis is due to a fungal cause, what will the LP findings be?

A
  • high WBCs (lymphocytes)
  • low glucose
  • increased protein
  • increased opening pressure
35
Q

What is the tx for Neisseria meningiditis?

A
  • ceftriaxone
  • penicillin G
36
Q

What layer of the meninges is tightly attached to the skull?

A

the dura mater

37
Q

Photophobia is a more common symptom in meningitis due to ______.

A

viruses

38
Q

What is the prophylaxis for Neisseria meningiditis?

A
  • Rifampin
  • ciprofloxacin
  • ceftriaxone
39
Q

What is the prophylactic tx for mothers testing positive for Group B strep?

A

intrapartum penicillin

40
Q

What is the gram stain and morphology of Strep. pneumo?

A
  • gram positive lancet-shaped diplococci
  • encapsulated
41
Q

What is the tx for cryptococcal meningitis?

A
  • amphotericin B
    • with/without flucytosine
42
Q

If the meningitis is due to a bacterial cause, what will the LP findings be?

A
  • high WBCs (neutrophils)
  • low glucose
  • increased protein
  • increased opening pressure
  • positive gram stain and culture
43
Q

What is the gram stain and morphology of Group B strep?

A
  • gram positive cocci
  • beta-hemolytic
44
Q

Organism?

  • “Rusty” sputum
A

Strep. pneumo

45
Q

Organism?

  • gram negative coccobacillary rod
  • grows on chocolate agar
A

Haemophilus influenzae

46
Q

Organism?

  • gram negative diplococci
  • polysaccharide capsule
  • ferments maltose and glucose
  • produces IgA proteases
A

Neisseria meningiditis

47
Q

What is a good rule of thumb for what the normal level of CSF glucose should be?

A

2/3s that of serum glucose (approx. 66)

48
Q

Why does meningitis cause HA?

A

bc the meninges wrap around the brain

49
Q

In which pts. would fungi cause meningitis?

A

immunocompromised

50
Q

What is the gram stain and morphology of E. coli?

A
  • gram negative rod
  • fimbriae
  • K-capsule
51
Q

What is the most common viral cause of meningitis? How is it transmitted?

A
  • coxsackivirus
  • fecal-oral
52
Q

What does meningitis mean?

A
  • inflammation of the leptomeninges
  • leptomeninges = the light meninges: the Pia and arachnoid together
53
Q

What viral family does Coxsackievirus belong to?

  • Is it enveloped?
  • What kind of genome does it have?
  • What is its capsid symmetry?
A

Coxsackievirus

  • family = picornavirus
  • envelope = no
  • genome = ss positive sense linear
  • capsid = icosahedral
54
Q

How does Neisseria meningiditis get to the meninges?

A

nasopharynx –> blood –> meninges

55
Q

Dx?

  • CSF findings = high neutrophils, low glucose
A

bacterial meningitis

56
Q

Strep. pneumo: IgA protease positive or negative?

A

positive

57
Q

From where are you trying to obtain a CSF sample when you perform an LP?

A

the subarachnoid space

58
Q

What is the classic triad of symptoms for meningitis? What are some others?

A
  • triad =
    • HA
    • stiff neck
    • fever
  • others =
    • photophobia
    • vomiting
    • altered mental status
59
Q

The spinal cord ends at _____.

A

L2

60
Q

Organism?

  • Spherule (much larger than RBC) filled with endospores
A

Coccidioidomycosis

61
Q

Starting at the skin, what are the order of the layers penetrated to perform an LP?

A
  1. Skin
  2. Superficial fascia
  3. Supraspinous ligament
  4. Interspinous ligament
  5. Ligamentum flavum
  6. Epidural space containing the internal vertebral venous plexus
  7. Dura mater
  8. Arachnoid
  9. Subarachnoid space containing CSF
  • *** “Some Super Supra Interesting LEDs Are Sexy”
62
Q

The spinal cord ends at L2, but the subarachnoid space and the cauda equina continue to ____.

A

S2

63
Q

What are the complications of meningitis? Which causative agent makes these most likely?

A
  • herniation –> death
  • fibrosis and scarring –>
    • hydrocephalus
    • hearing loss
    • seizures
64
Q

What is the gram stain and morphology of Neisseria meningiditis?

A
  • gram negative diplococci
  • polysaccharide capsule