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Meningitis
By Molly Mangual & Taylor Adams
History
Meningitis is known as the inflammation or swelling of the protective membranes surrounding the
brain and the spinal cord; meninges. Mening(meninges) +Itis(inflammation)= Meningitis
The first recorded outbreak of Meningitis was found in Geneva in 1805. It was an epidemic.
In the 19th century it was recorded that these organisms were the causes of Meningitis. 1)
Streptococcus pneumoniae 2) Neisseria meningitidis 3)Haemophilus influenzae.
Throughout time there has been more organisms and symptoms that are associated with
meningitis.
Case Example
6 month old male seen by doctor due to fever and URI symptoms.
He was diagnosed with otis media and treated with amoxicillin.
Now child is irritable and lethargic. He has also vomited and urine output is
decreased. Eyes do not focus on objects and patient has complained of
neck pain.
Intracranial pressure is suspected and CSF results return showing elevated
levels of WBCs
Antibiotics were given to patient to treat Meningitis.
Virulence Factors
● Bacterial meningitis, secretes IgA throughout which causes the ability to
escape host defenses. Capsule allows an increase in survival rate.
Pneumolysin compromises the organisms blood brain barrier. Glycosidase
facilitates the development of meningitis and Fimbriae which allows for
adherence.
Pathophysiology
Infectious agent has to colonize the body. Colonization sites can be skin, nasopharynx, respiratory tract, GI tract, and
genitourinary tract. The organism invades submucosa and takes over the host's defences.
Once colonized, the microbes find their way to the brain and can disrupt the blood-brain barrier.
When the body tries to fight the infection, other problems arise such as, blood vessels become leaky and allow fluid,
WBCs, and other infection-fighting particles to enter the meninges and brain. This results in brain swelling
causing decreased blood flow to brain.
Severity of bacterial meningitis can vary. It may remain confined to subarachnoid space or it may breach pial barrier
and underlying parenchyma. This can lead to cortical destruction if left untreated.
Infectious processes account for changes in CSF cell count, pH, lactate, protein, and glucose in patients.
Some processes that help infectious process are; the replication of bacteria, increased number of inflammatory cells,
cytokine-induced disruptions in membrane transport, and increased membrane permeability
Mode of transmission
Multiple different ways that Meningitis can be transmitted:
Inhalation of soil particles that contains bird or bat droppings that are
contaminated.
Person to person contact
Unclean hands and non clean health habits.
Diagnostic Process
Blood testing
Cerebrospinal fluid testing
It is important to do labwork on blood and cerebrospinal fluid so that an
accurate treatment plan can be made. The fact that there are different
types of Meningitis often makes it difficult to treat if the cause of the
disease is unknown.
Prevention and Treatment
Prevention:
Keep up to date with vaccination schedules.
Washing hands
Maintain healthy habits
Treatment:
Multiple antibiotics that are available to help treat meningitis; determined by type of meningitis that was contracted.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO TREAT MENINGITIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Number of cases in US
each year
Bacterial meningitis affects over 4,000 people and causes 500 deaths in the U.S. each year.
Meningococcal meningitis infects about 2,600 people.
6,000+ cases of pneumococcal meningitis are reported.’
2010-2014; 3 deaths were attributed to meningococcal disease in Marion County.
Importance
It is important to have knowledge about meningitis. There are five types of
meningitis. Many of these types can be fatal if not recognized and treated with
the right antibiotics.
1.
Bacterial: life threatening, bacteria gets into the bloodstream and travels from the brain to the spinal cord.
2.
Viral: caused mostly by enteroviruses, spreads through improper cleaning of hands.
3.
Parasitic: Usually fatal (Naegleria fowleri) which lives in warm fresh waters, water heaters and in soil.
4.
Fungal: fungus makes its way into the bloodstream, caused by the inhalation of fungal spores through soil.
5.
Noninfectious: can be caught by another person, can result from a head injury.
References
"Bacterial Meningitis." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., 15 June 2016. Web. 12 July 2016.
<https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html>.
Hasbun, Rodrigo, MD, MPH. "Meningitis." Medscape. EMedicine, 16 Feb. 2016. Web. 12 July 2016.
<http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/232915-overview#a3>.
"Meningitis." Florida Hospital. Adventist. Web. 12 July 2016. <https://www.floridahospital.com/meningitis/statistics>.
"Meningitis." Mayo Clinic. N.p., 12 Jan. 2016. Web. 11 July 2016. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/meningitis/home/ovc-20169520>.
Rudoy, Raul, MD, MPH. "Case Based Pediatrics Chapter." Case Based Pediatrics Chapter. University of Hawaii, Apr. 2003. Web. 13
July 2016. <https://www.hawaii.edu/medicine/pediatrics/pedtext/s06c14.html>.
Theobald, Mike. "Understanding the 5 Types of Meningitis."EverydayHealth.com. N.p., 18 July 2014. Web. 13 July 2016.
<http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/understanding-meningitis/types-of-meningitis/>.
Yoo, Saerom. "Meningitis Is Deadly but Rare." Statesman Journal. USA Today, 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 July 2016.
<http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2014/01/10/meningitis-is-deadly-but-rare/4400361/>.