Neuro Infections 2- MJ Flashcards
Meningitis is an inflammatory dz of the __________
leptomeninges
What are the 5 etiologies of meningitis?
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Medications
- Cancer
What are the 6 risk factors of meningitis?
- Extremes of age
- Birth hx/maternal infection
- Immunodeficiency/immunocompromised
- Vaccine status
- Exposure risk
- IV drug use
What is the clinical presentation of meningitis? (5)
1. HA
- Photophobia
- N/V
4. Neck stiffness
5. Fever
**If a pt has these sxs, it is bacterial meningitis until proven otherwise**
What is the most common etiology of viral meningitis?
Enteroviruses
The following is the clinical presentation of what condition?
- Fever
- HA
- N/V
- Neck stiffness
- Photophobia
- +/- URI sxs, rash or diarrhea
Viral meningitis
What are 2 associated historical clues that might make you think a patient has viral meningitis?
- HSV- genital lesions
- Mumps (this is the MC extra-salivary complication)
What is the course of viral meningitis?
usually self-limited
How do you diagnose viral meningitis?
H&P + CSF analysis
What does CSF analysis show for a patient with viral meningitis?
- Tubidity and color?
- Opening pressure?
- WBC count?
- Differential cells?
- RBC count
- Protein?
- Glucose?
- Tubidity and color- Clear or cloudy, colorless
- Opening pressure- normal to increased
- WBC count- increased
- Differential cells- Lymphocytes
- RBC count- 0
- Protein- increased
- Glucose- normal

CSF analysis of viral meningitis looks similar to what other condition?
- looks similar to CSF analysis of viral encephalitis
- LP doesnt help distinguish between the two
What is the pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis in adults vs. neonates?
- Adults: hematogenous spread, extension from nearby infection, penetrating injury
- Neonates: pathogens acquired from the birth canal, through the placenta, or from surroundings
After, there is rapid replication of the bacteria, which triggers the inflammatory cascade
What is the MC etiology of bacterial meningitis in neonates (<28d)?
Group B strep
(this will be a question)
What is the MC etiology of bacterial meningitis in babies/children?
Strep pneumonia
What is the MC etiology of bacterial meningitis in teens, young adults?
Neisseria meningitides
What is the MC etiology of bacterial meningitis in Adults?
Strep pneumonia
T/F, bacterial meningitis symptoms are usually rapid in onset
True
(can be slow (1-several days) but it is rare to go >24 hrs w/o seeking tx)
The following is the clinical presentation of what condition?
- Rapid onset (hours)
- Fever
- Meningismus
- Altered mental status
- Severe headache
- Nausea, vomiting
- Photophobia
- Back pain
Bacterial meningitis
(the bolded sxs are what differs from viral meningitis)
The following is the clinical presentation of what condition in neonates/infants?
- Irritability
- Poor feeding
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- High-pitched cry
- “floppy”
- Rash (petechiae if N. meningitides)
- +/- seizures
Bacterial meningitis
The following are possible physical exam findings for what condition?
Vitals:
- signs of septic shock
- Fever
- decreased SaO2
- Widened pulse pressure (seen w/ increased ICP)
Skin:
- Viral exanthem, petechiae, purpura

Bacterial Meningitis
What 2 special neuro exams would you perform on a pt w/ bacterial meningitis?
- Kernig sign- inability or reluctance to allow full extwnsion of the knee when hip is flexed
- Brudzinski sign- Spontaneous flexion of hips during attempted passive flexion of neck

What is the Diagnosis and management of bacterial meningitis? (8 steps)
- IV access
- Blood culture x 2
- Administer antibiotics (ASAP- LP/CT should NOT delay abx)
- CBC with diff
- CMP
- Coags
- +/- CT
- LP with CSF analysis
What does CSF analysis show for a patient with bacterial meningitis?
- Tubidity and color?
- Opening pressure?
- WBC count?
- Differential cells?
- RBC count
- Protein?
- Glucose?
- Tubidity and color- Turbid, yellow
- Opening pressure- Elevated
- WBC count- VERY elevated
- Differential cells- Neutrophils
- RBC count- 0
- Protein- VERY elevated
- Glucose- Decreased (“bacteria eat up the glucose”)
