WEEK 4: NEUROLOGY CNS INFECTIONS Flashcards
Etiology of CNS infections in neonates
E Coli, Group B Strep, Listeria, Strep agalactiae
Etiology if CNS infections in Children
N. meningitidis, H. influenza if unvaccinated, Strep pneumoniae
Etiology if CNS infections in young adult
N. Meningitidis, Strep pneumoniae
Etiology if CNS infections in older people
S. pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes
Etiology if CNS infections in immunosuppressed
M. Tuberculosis, Cryptococcus
Etiology if CNS infections if there is a shunt?
Staphylococcus
CSF Findings in Bacterial Meningitis?
Glucose Low, Protein Raised, Polymorphs raised
Route for brain abcess?
Hematogenous
local spread
Foreign body
Organisms for brain abcess? (4)
Anaerobic strep
Bacteroides
Staphylococci
Gram Negatives
Viral encephalitis agents?
Herpes Simplex, Arboviruses, Mumps, Measles
Viral meningitis agents?
enterovirus, mumps, herpes simplex, arboviruses
CSF findings in viral meningitis?
Glucose normal, protein raised, lymphocytes raised
most cases of meningitis result from what route?>
hematogenous dissemination
sources of infections in the CNS?
Contiguous spread: sinusitis, otitis media, birth defects
Hematogenous:
Direct inoculation: Trauma, neurosurgical complications
Reactivation of latent disease: TB, HSV
The clinical factors noted to be associated with adverse outcomes in bacterial meningitis included
Streptococcal pneumonia as the etiology, focal neurological deficits, and hyponatremia (serum sodium concentration <130mmol/L)
the most common acute neurological complications observed in bacterial meningitis
Subdural effusion, seizures and hydrocephalus
Distinction between the gray matter and white matter is gone. This means to say
Cerebral edema
Finger-like appearance of white matter
perilesional edema
most common agents of bacterial meningitis
most common are H.
influenzae, N. meningitidis, and S. pneumoniae,
associated condition in patients who had meningitis with HIB
hearing loss, seizures most often here too
Hib reamain sensitive to what drug?
third gen cephalosporins (
In neonatal period, GBS infection is
associated usually in
vaginally born child or in the birth canal.
Infection with Neisseria meningitidis most commonly
manifests as
asymptomatic colonization in the
nasopharynx of healthy adolescents and adults
is a gram-negative aerobic intracellular diplococcus that
colonizes humans only and that causes disease after
transmission to a susceptible individual
N. meningitidis
N meningitidis incubation period
Incubation period of 2-7 days
When the onset is attended by a
petechial or purpuric rash or by large
ecchymoses and lividity of the skin of
the lower parts of the body. what agent?
N. Meningitidis
Along the spectrum of presentations of meningococcal disease, the most common clinical syndromes are
meningitis and meningococcal septicemia
Tuberculous Meningitis and Tuberculoma TB of the central nervous system is seen most often in
young children but also develops in adults, especially those infected with HIV.
Tuberculous meningitis results from the hematogenous spread of
primary or post primary pulmonary TB or from the rupture of a sub-ependymal tubercle into the subarachnoid space.
evidence of old pulmonary lesions or a miliary pattern is found on chest radiography
Tuberculous Meningitis
Acute Bacterial meningitis vs TB meningitis in terms of exudation
In Acute Bacterial meningitis, exudates can be found in the subarachnoid space, specifically, in the convexity, causing subdural effusion, and communicating hydrocephalus due to obstruction on the absorption of the CSF in the subarachnoid space.
In TB meningitis, suppuration can be found in the base of the brain and cisterns, and it’s called Basal meningitis – has a ‘star-shaped’ appearance (
Gold standard in the dx of TB meningitis?
Culture of CSF is diagnostic in up to 80% of cases and remains the gold standard.
This is a preferred INITIAL diagnostic, but this is NOT the GOLD STANDARD in TB meningitis
Realtime automated nucleic acid amplification (the Xpert MTB/RIF assay)
pathognomonic of patients with chronic meningitis or TB meningitis in imaging?
Imaging studies (CT and MRI) may show hydrocephalus and abnormal enhancement of basal cisterns or ependyma.
3 pathognomonic findings in the enhance CT or CT with contrast of patients with TB meningitis, and these are:
Presence of basal enhancement
Hydrocephalus
Presence of infarct
There is rapid killing of TB bacilli. what phase in the the TB regimen?
Initial phase
Fewer drugs are necessary (usually 2), but longer time
• These drugs eliminate the remaining bacilli. what phase in the TB regimen?
Continuation phase
Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis?
Fever, Headache, Neck Stiffness, changes in mental funciton
Rashes typical of patients with meningococcemia?
Violaceous Purpurous Rashes
Causative agent that presents with General paresis and tabes dorsalis
Neurosyphilis (Treponema pallidum)