Unit 15 - CNS Infections Flashcards
What agents cause meningitis?
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Streptococcus pneumonia
Encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
Meningitis
inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection
What can cause encephalitis?
- HSV
- Polio
- WNV
What does the CNS include?
brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves
What is the CNS protected by?
bone and membrane layers
ex. brain - skull
ex. spinal cord - vertebral column
Blood-borne invasion across BBB to cause _____
encephalitis
Blood-borne invasion across CSF to cause ______
meningitis
How can microbes cross BBB?
1-Growing across, infecting the cells that comprise the barrier
2-Being passively transported across in intracellular vacuoles
3-Being carries across by infected white blood cells
Normal:
Cells/mL
0-5
Normal:
Protein (mg/dL)
15-45
Normal:
Glucose (mg/dL)
45-85
Septic (purulent meningits):
Cells/mL
200-20,000 (mainly neutrophils)
Septic (purulent meningits):
Protein (mg/dL)
high (>100)
Septic (purulent meningits):
Glucose (mg/dL)
<45
Septic (purulent meningits):
Causes?
bacteria, amoebae, brain abscess
Aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis:
Cells/mL
100-1000 (mainly mononuclear)
Aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis:
Protein (mg/dL)
moderately high (50-100)
Aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis:
Glucose (mg/dL)
Normal
Aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis:
Causes?
viruses, Mtb, fungi, brain abscess, partly treated bacterial meningitis
Describe bacterial meningitis
- More severe but less common
- Prior to 1990s, Hib most common
- Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae are the other two key pathogens
- Life-threatening
Neisseria meningitis:
Virulence factors
- Capsule
- IgA Protease
- Pili
- Endotoxin
- Outer membrane proteins
Haemophilus influenzae:
Virulence factors
- Capsule
- IgA Protease
- Pili
- Endotoxin
- Outer membrane proteins
Streptococcus pneumoniae:
Virulence factors
- Capsule
- IgA Protease
Possible causes of bacterial meningitis in Neonates (<1 month)
Gram negative bacilli
- E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter
- Streptococcus agalactiae (group B)
- Listeria monocytogenes
Possible causes of bacterial meningitis in Infants (1-23 months)
- Streptococcus agalactiae (group B)
- E. coli
- Haemophilus influenza
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Neisseria meningitidis
Possible causes of bacterial meningitis in Children (>2 yrs) & Adults
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Neiserria meningitidis
Possible causes of bacterial meningitis in Older Adults (>65 yrs)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Aerobic gram-negative bacilli
Meningococcal Meningitis:
____% of population is carrier
*Higher carrier rates during epidemics
20
Meningococcal Meningitis:
___ for attachment to epithelium of nasopharynx
pili
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Invasion of blood and meninges _____
rare
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Presence of Abs to capsular Age protects from _____
invasion
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Individuals with _____ _________ deficiency more susceptible
C5-C9 complement
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Who is at greater risk?
- Young children who have lost maternal Abs
- Adolescents who never encountered infecting serotype
Meningococcal Meningitis:
_______ infection
droplet
Droplet infection
An infection transmitted from one individual to another by droplets of moisture expelled from the upper respiratory tract through sneezing or coughing.
Droplet infection is worse during ______ and ________
overcrowding and confinement (prisons, college dorms, military barracks, etc.)
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Peak?
winter/early spring with carrier rates between 60-80%
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Incubation time?
1-3 days
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Causes sudden onset of ??? (symptoms)
- headache
- sore throat
- drowsiness
- fever
- stiff neck
- hemorrhagic skin rash (indicates septicemia)
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Mortality (untreated)
100%
Meningococcal Meningitis:
Mortality (treated)
10-15%