3. Points of Presentation Topic:
Definition of meningitis
Causative organisms
Symptoms of Meningitis
Treatment of Meningitis
Prevention
4. What is meningitis?
The word “meningitis” comes frome the Morden
Latin word meninga and greek word Menix meaning
“membrane”.
The sufffix “itis” comes frome the greek word itis
meaning “pertaining to”.
In medical English, the suffix “itis” means
“inflammation of”.
5. Definition:
• Meningitis is inflammation of the
meninges .
• The meninges is the collective name for
the three membranes that envelope the
brain and spinal cord, called the pia,
arachnoid, and dura mater.
• The meninges’ main function, alongside
the cerebrospinal fluid is to protect the
central nervous system.
6. Causative organisms
Neisseria meningitidis
• Nasopharynx
Streptococcus pneumonia
• Nasopharynx,direct extension across skull fracture
Listeria monocytogenes
• GI tract,placenta
Coagulase-negative staphylococcus
• Dermal of foreign body
Staphylococcus aureus
• Bacteremia,dermal,or foreign body
Gram negative rods
• Various
Haemophilus influenza
• Nasopharynx
7. Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis
Common Symptoms over the age of 2 years old ......High fever,
headache, and stiff neck.
Can develop over several hours or take up to 1 to 2days.
Other symptoms: nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking in bright lights,
confusion, and sleepiness.
Newborns/infants- common symptoms are high
fever, headache, neck stiffness, may appear slow,
inactive, vomiting, irritable, or be feeding poorly.
At any age, seizures may occur as
Diseaseprogresses.
8. Risk factors of Meningitis
• Age- Viral meningitis occur in children younger than age 5
• Bacterial meningitis most commonly occurs in pre-teens and young adults
• Community Setting: this infection spreads quickly in large groups such as
college students living in dormitories, military personnel, and children in
childcare facilities are at high risk
• Pregnancy- increased risk of listeriosis, which this bacteria can also cause
meningitis.
• Working with animals- dairy farmers, ranchers, or others who work with
domestic animals have an increased risk of listeriosis which can cause
meningitis
• Weakened immune system-diseases, medications and surgical procedure
can increase the risk of meningitis
9. Treatment
Initiated as soon as possible
Delay of therapy associated with increased
mortality
Delay associated with increased complications
If LP delayed due to needing a CT-blood cultures
and start empiric therapy
LP as soon as it is safe-longer the time between
antibiotics and the LP-decreased return of the
CSF culture results
10. Treatment of Meningitis
Regime A
• Doxycycline 100 mg po bid for 6 weeks
• Streptomycin 1g IM daily for 14-21 days
Regime B
• Doxycycline 100 mg po bid and rifampin 600 mg po daily for
6 weeks
Osteoarticular disease
• Regime B and streptomycin-treat up to 5 months
Neurobrucellosis
• Three drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier
• Regime B and septra-treat until CSF returns to normal
Endocarditis
• Treat for months-three drugs
• Valve replacement
Accidental animal vaccine exposure
• Full course of antibiotic treatment
11. How to Prevent Meningitis
Even though the disease is rare, it can result in severe, permanent disabilities
and death, so it is important to take every precaution to help protect
against it
Behavioral
Do not share water bottles,
utensils, share “bites” of your food,
instruments with mouthpieces,
etc.
Try to stay away from friends who
are displaying flu-like symptoms
Get sufficient rest
Medical
Health officials recommend routine
vaccination of adolescents, with a
first dose at 11 or 12 years, with a
booster dose at age 16 years
Getting the booster, which is
sometimes overlooked, is critical to
provide protection through
adolescence into young adulthood