Bacterial Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges

Caused by bacteria, Viruses ,

fungus, parasites, cancer and certain
drugs
An empyema
occurring in the brain
as an result of
meningitis.

Age Group

Causes

Newborns

Group BStreptococcus,
Escherichia coli, Listeria
monocytogenes

Infants and Children

Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Neisseria meningitidis,
Haemophilus influenzaetype b

Adolescents and Young

Adults

Neisseria meningitidis,
Streptococcus pneumoniae

Older Adults

Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Neisseria meningitidis,
Listeria monocytogenes

Streptococcus pneumoniae

One of the top contributors ear

infections and can cause
Pneumococcal pneumonia.

Gram positive containing

polysaccharide capsule prevents the
bacteria from undergoing
phagocytosis

Normally causes
Listeriosis

Listeria monocytogenes

Gram positive bacteria that uses the

protein internalin to attach to a
cadherin protein found in the blood
brain barrier.

Neisseria meningitidis

Gram negative bacteria, has trimeric

autotransporter adhesin or adhesion
proteins which to bind to host cells.

These bacteria can live

normally inside of your
body and never cause
meningitis.

Through an ear infection, head

trauma, neural surgery or an
compromised immune system, the
chances of contracting meningitis
are greatly increased.

The bacteria grows inside the

Subarachnoid space in cerebral
spinal fluid

The cerebral spinal fluid contains

everything these bacteria could
want.

Bacterial Meningitis since can be

caused by many different bacteria
has an incubation period ranging
for 2-10 days with 4 days being the
average.

The bacteria release endotoxins (cell

membrane and cell wall fragments).
Gram positive (Streptococcus,
Listeria) -cell wall
Gram negative(Neisseria ) -cell
membrane, cell wall

The immune system recognizes the

endotoxins inside the CSF and
begins killing the bacteria. Creating
dead bacteria and dead white cells
(pus) called an empyema.

This inflammation puts pressure on

the brain.

Sudden onset of Headaches, neck

stiffness, fear, confusion, vomiting,
irritability, skin rashes, inability to
tolerate light or loud noises

These bacteria can be spread

through nose and throat body
fluids.

High risk groups

Infancy
Elderly
Immunocompromised
Head trauma
neural surgery
Ear infections
College students
Military recruits

The body cannot handle this disease

on its own. Untreated bacterial
meningitis has a mortality rate of
50%.

Even with early treatment 5-10% of

the patients die within the first 2448 hours since the onset of
symptoms. While others can survive
but be deaf or develop epilepsy or
other cognitive issues.

Blood cultures are used to

determine signs of inflammation
and a lumbar puncture is used to
definitively test for the presence of
bacteria in the CSF

The bacteria cultures are grown an

are tested with gram staining.

Patients who show these symptoms

are immediately put on corticoid
steroids, which reduce the bodies
inflammatory response.

Bacterial Meningitis is so virulent

that treatment is started before the
result of the staining and LP are
known, with treatment being
changed when the results are
known.

The treatment is based upon any

information the doctors have
available.
Certain strains and their resistances
are more predominate in certain
regions.
Some symptoms (rashes) only occur
in certain strains (Neisseria)

The MCV4 Vaccine can prevent 4

types of bacterial meningitis.

The MCV4 contains no active

bacteria, only an antigen taken from
a polysaccharide capsule. This is
sugar capsule that the bacteria uses
to avoid phagocytosis.

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