bacterial meningitis

bacterial meningitis.

See meningitis.

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meningitis [men″in-ji´tis] (pl. meningi´tides)

inflammation of the meninges, usually by either a bacterium (bacterial m.) or a virus (viral m.). When it affects the dura mater it is termed pachymeningitis; when the arachnoid and pia mater are involved, it is called leptomeningitis. The term meningitis does not refer to a specific disease entity but rather to the pathologic condition of inflammation of the tissues of the meninges. The etiologic agent can be anything that activates an inflammatory response, including both pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi; chemical toxins such as lead and arsenic; contrast media used in myelography; and metastatic malignant cells. Enteroviruses are the most common causes of aseptic meningitis.

Bacterial Meningitis. This form occurs when pathogenic bacteria enter the subarachnoid space and cause a pyogenic inflammatory response. The most common causes are Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), and Haemophilus influenzae, which are responsible for approximately 70 per cent of all cases. The incidence is age-related. In adults, S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis cause most of the cases; in children aged 1 month to 15 years, N. meningitidis and H. influenzae predominate; in neonates less than 1 month old, the disease is usually a nosocomial infection with gram-negative enteric bacilli.

Almost all bacterial infections of the meninges enter the nervous system after having invaded and infected another region of the body and then are spread by local extension, as from the sinuses, or through the blood, as in septicemia. The organisms gain access to the ventriculosubarachnoid spaces and the cerebrospinal fluid where they cause irritation of the tissues bathed by the fluid.

Bacterial meningitis typically begins with headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck (nuchal rigidity), and chills and fever. Irritability and confusion occur early in the course of the disease, and convulsive seizures occur in about 25 per cent of patients. As the disease progresses the patient becomes less rational, has decreasing levels of consciousness, and lapses into coma. Inability to straighten the knee when the hip is flexed (a positive kernig's sign) and involuntary flexing of the hip and knee when the neck is flexed forward (a positive brudzinski's sign) are indicative of meningeal irritation.

A diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is verified by isolation of the organism from a specimen of cerebrospinal fluid obtained by lumbar puncture. Treatment with the appropriate antibacterial agent is begun at once to reduce the numbers of proliferating bacteria attacking the central nervous system. Supportive measures include rest, maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance, and prevention or control of convulsions with anticonvulsant drugs.

The prognosis is generally good, especially for meningococcal meningitis in which residual neurologic deficits and persistent convulsive seizures are rare. Pneumococcal meningitis and meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae are more likely to be complicated by these sequelae as well as by septic shock and hydrocephalus.

Benign Viral Meningitis. This term encompasses a group of disorders in which there is some meningeal irritation but no pyogenic organism can be found in the cerebrospinal fluid. It is, therefore, called also aseptic meningitis complex, which is somewhat misleading because the meningeal irritation often follows infection with the mumps virus or with one of the picornaviruses.

The patient with this disorder typically complains of headache and signs characteristic of meningeal irritation, intolerance to light, and pain when the eyes are moved from side to side. Most of the symptoms are mild, and treatment is largely supportive and symptomatic; the disease is self-limiting.

Patient Care. Assessment of the patient with meningitis includes monitoring vital signs, neurologic status, and fluid and electrolyte status. The plan of care should include provisions for rest and relief from discomfort, a quiet and nonstimulating environment, protection from injury during convulsions, control of elevated body temperature, and isolation precautions as indicated by the specific causative organism. In general, enteric precautions are indicated for patients with aseptic meningitis caused by an enterovirus. Fungal and meningococcal meningitis require respiratory precautions. Antibiotics must be given precisely as ordered so as to avoid further damage to the central nervous system. Early signs of increased intracranial pressure from brain edema are reported promptly so that measures to reduce pressure can be taken as soon as possible. During the acute phase and convalescence the patient is watched for signs of complications such as septic shock, vascular collapse, and hydrocephalus. Nutritional status must be maintained throughout the course of illness to reinforce the patient's natural resources for combating infection and recovering from its deleterious effects.

Portals of entry resulting in meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and intracranial mass lesions. From Mahon and Manuselis, 2000.

aseptic meningitis any of several mild types of meningitis, most of which are caused by viruses; see viral meningitis.

bacterial meningitis meningitis caused by bacteria; common pathogens are Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Some types may be serious, acute, or even fulminating. See also viral meningitis.

cerebrospinal meningitis an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord; it may be caused by any of numerous different organisms.

epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis an acute infectious disease with seropurulent inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, due to infection by Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus). It usually occurs in epidemics, and symptoms are those of acute cerebral and spinal meningitis. There is also usually an eruption of erythematous, herpetic, or hemorrhagic spots on the skin. The fulminating or malignant form is known as Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome.

spinal meningitis inflammation of the meninges of the spinal cord.

viral meningitis meningitis due to any of various viruses, such as a coxsackievirus or the mumps virus, with lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid. It usually has a short uncomplicated course characterized by malaise, fever, headache, stiffness of neck and back, and nausea. See also aseptic meningitis.

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bacterial meningitis

Acute bacterial meningitis Neurology Meningeal inflammation caused by bacteria which, if untreated, is often fatal, or associated with significant sequelae Epidemiology 60% are community-acquired–CM, 40% nosocomial–NM Predisposing factors Recent neurosurgery/use of neurosurgical devices–60% NM, immune dysfunction–20.5% NM; 7.5% CM, CSF leak–8.6% NM, 3% CM, head injury–8.6% NM, 3.5% CM,–acute or chronic otitis media–< 1% NM, 10% CM, sinusitis, pneumonia, endocarditis, DM, alcoholism Clinical Fever–95% at presentation, nuchal rigidity–88% at presentation, neurologic signs—confusion, lethargy, seizures, papilledema Microbiology H influenzae > S pneumoniae > N meningitidis Management Antibiotics and dexamethasone Mortality ± 25%, highest in those > age 60, obtunded at presentation, or with seizures in past 24 hrs

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Patient discussion about bacterial meningitis.

Q. What Causes Meningitis? I was told that meningitis is a very infectious disese. What causes meningitis?

A. Meningitis is indeed a very infectious disease, caused by infectious agents such as bacterias, viruses and different subtypes of parasites or fungi. You can view here what exactly is meningitis and more about what causes it-
http://www.5min.com/Video/What-is-Meningitis-7106

Q. i have been in contact with someone whose in contact with bacterial meningitis. is this dangerous?

A. bacterial meningitis is one of the most lethal infections known. when people get infected by it they get a __ load of antibiotics and so are their families. but it all depends on what stage you had contact, and how close contact. in any way- he is probably under treatment now, no? if so, contact the doctors where he is hospitalized and ask them what is the protocol.

Q. my little bother is in hospital with bacterial meningitis can i cath it off him my little brother is in hospital with bacterial meningitis and im so scared can i cath it he took prooly a week nd 2 days ago nd he was sick nd we was keep cryin and couldnt walk so my mum rang the doctor up and she took him down at they sed it was gasintovirus bug so my mum made sure she keeped a eye on him for two days and it was friday nd see said yes hes getting better so we went asda shopping and in asda he went all sleepy so my mum rang a taxi and we went home he didnt want nothing to eat so my mum said if he anit better by tomorrow im goin to take him down the hospital he was sick 5 times hes skin went all red in like spots but they was goin and coming back at the doctor sed gav him some apple juice every 5 minters so she done that for a hour and we was waitting for the doctor 2 tell us whats up with him and they came round to look at him and they didnt know whats up with him they said he will after to stay over for the night and gave him some tests so i rang a taxi and i went home and my mum stayed over for the night and the next morning the sent him home and he wasnt getting no better he was crying all day all again so my mum took him back to the hospital on monday and they done a few tests on him again and on tuesday my got the results back and they came back hes irons are low so they said take him to ur doctor to gave him some stuff for hes irons and my mum booked him in and she took him to go and see the doctor and the said he dont look right you need to go and take him back hospital so my mum took him back there and they have done more test on him and its came back as bacterial meningitis so its friday now and hes been in there for 4 days and he isnt gettin no better and the hosptial said we will have to go on tbles the people who have been near him.

A. Sounds he's suffereing from bacterial meningitis, in inflammation of the envelopes of the brain, due to a germ called Neisseria Menningitidis (meningococ). It can be infectious, and therefore you were recommended to take antibiotics in order to prevent you getting sick.

You may read more here:
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000680.htm

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