What is the pathophysiology of meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis is characterized by the entry of bacteria into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and bacterial growth in this compartment leading to inflammation within the CSF and the adjacent brain tissue.
What are the precautions for meningitis?
What infection control precautions are required? Meningococcal meningitis patients should be placed on droplet precautions (private room, mask for all entering the room) until they have completed 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy. Negative pressure ventilation is not required.
What is the differential diagnosis of meningitis?
The differential diagnosis of meningitis and encephalitis includes bacterial, viral, fungal, and autoimmune etiologies.
How does meningitis lead to sepsis?
Bacterial meningitis sometimes causes a type of blood poisoning called septicaemia, which happens if bacteria or their toxins enter the bloodstream and the rest of the body. Septicaemia is a very serious condition that can be fatal.
What causes bacterial meningitis?
A bacteria called Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was a common cause of meningitis in babies and young children until the Hib vaccine became available for infants. There are also vaccines for Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
What are the complication of meningitis?
Main complications hearing loss, which may be partial or total – people who have had meningitis will usually have a hearing test after a few weeks to check for any problems. recurrent seizures (epilepsy) problems with memory and concentration. co-ordination, movement and balance problems.
Can meningitis be spread airborne?
Bacterial meningitis is NOT spread through casual contact or the airborne route; however, some bacteria can be spread by close contact with respiratory droplets (e.g., in daycare centers).
Who is generally at highest risk for meningitis Why?
Infants, teens and young adults, and older adults have the highest rates of meningococcal disease in the United States.
What are meningeal signs?
Meningism—a clinical syndrome of signs and symptoms that are suggestive of meningeal irritation. Symptoms may include headache, photophobia, neck stiffness and seizures. Signs may include nuchal rigidity, Kernig’s sign, Brudzinski’s sign or jolt accentuation headache.
Is meningitis and sepsis the same?
Sepsis is an overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. Meningitis is when infection reaches the lining around the brain and spinal cord (the meninges) which can cause dangerous swelling.
What is the difference between sepsis and septic?
‘Septic’ is a very different term from ‘sepsis’ to the infectious disease physician; the patient being septic means that the patient has the same symptomatology as a patient with sepsis, but the bacterial diagnosis may not be obvious and a range of other pathogens need to be considered much more broadly, so that …
What are the 3 types of meningitis?
There are a few different types of meningitis, including viral, bacterial, and fungal meningitis.