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Meningitis
Infection of the meninges
Encephalitis
Infection of the brain parenchyma
May develop during or after a viral infection
Herpes simplex Type 1 most common & serious cause
May cause seizures or mental changes
May lead to coma or death
Other causes : Arboviruses, Influenza virus, measles
Myelitis
Infection of the spinal cord tissues
Professor Hazel Mitchell: H.Mitchell@unsw.edu.au
Meningitis
Definition
Central nervous system infections
Meningitis inflammation of the Main routes of invasion
membranes (meninges) surrounding the
brain and spinal cord Bloodborne
Meninges Most common
Compose three separate membranes
layered together which encase the Via peripheral nerves
the brain and the spinal cord Local invasion
Pia mater
Arachnoid mater
Infected ears or sinuses
Rare
Dura mater Local injury or congenital defect
Video of Meningitis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYtSWwAndMk
Causes of meningitis
Causes of meningitis Bacterial causes of meningitis
Principle causes Common causes of bacterial meningitis
Bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae
Viruses Microbial agents Neisseria meningitidis
Fungi Haemophilus influenzae Type B (unvaccinated)
Meningitis can also be caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus)
Bleeding into the meninges Enteric Gram negative bacilli
Cancer Other causes
E. coli and Klebsiella sp.
Diseases of the immune system Listeria monocytogenes
Inflammatory responses to some types of chemotherapy or
other chemical agents Causative agents involved differ according to age group
The pathogens involved in bacterial meningitis
differ according to age Signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis
Fever >90%
Age Group Causes
Group B Streptococcus (Strep agalacticaie),
Headache 80‐90%
Newborns Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Stiff neck >80%
Listeria monocytogenes
Brudzinski’s sign 50%
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis,
Infants and Children Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Group B Kernig’s sign 50%
Streptococcus
Myalgia 30‐60%
Adolescents and Young Adults Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae
Nausea, vomiting >80%
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis,
Older Adults Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Group B Altered sensorium (mental status) >80%
Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes
Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms
Brudzinski’s sign The head is flexed onto the
Kernig’s sign
chest, Hip is flexed to about 90 degrees. Any attempt to then
The head is flexed onto the chest causing
causing the lower limbs to be drawn up straighten leg results in pain and spasm in the hamstrings
the lower to be drawn up limbs
Severe stiffness of the hamstrings
Severe neck stiffness causes a causes an inability to straighten
the leg when the hip is flexed
patient’s hips and knees to
flex when the neck is flexed
Source of bacterial agents of meningitis Source of less common causes of bacterial meningitis
Neisseria meningitidis*
Carried in nasopharynx of up to 20% of the population
Listeria monocytogenes
Streptococcus pneumoniae* Contaminated food
Carried in the throat of many healthy individuals
Notifications
Common inhabitant of respiratory tract Serogroup C
of children of infants and young adults
Other meningococal serotypes
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Caused by an encapsulated strain Immunocompromised children living in high
incidence areas
* Most common bacterial causes of meningitis Jan 2005 Jan 2008 Jan 2011 Jan 2014
Neonatal meningitis
Source of bacterial agents Clinical picture
Genital tract of mother
Diagnosis difficult
Symptoms not typical of meningitis
Often leads to permanent neurological sequalae
Fatal in approximately 35% of cases
Clinical presentation can provide clues as to Clinical presentation can provide clues as to
the causative agent the causative agent
Neisseria meningitidis Pneumococcal meningitis (Streptococcus pneumoniae)
Acute onset with neurological signs in 6‐24 hours Acute onset with patient comatose within a few hours
May be preceded by an upper respiratory No rash seen
infection May follow otitis media, pneumonia,septicaemia or
head injury
Causes a petechial rash
Occurs in ALL age groups
AFFECTS ALL ages
Particularly infants and the elderly
Highest in children and adolescents
Clinical presentation can provide clues as to Clinical presentation in newborns is often not typical
the causative agent of meningitis
Newborns and infants may show any of these signs
Haemophilus influenzae High fever
Onset less acute (1‐2 days) Constant crying
No rash seen Excessive sleepiness or irritability
Suspect in children <5 years who have NOT been vaccinated Inactivity or sluggishness
Signs in very young infants very difficult to detect
Increasingly recognised in the elderly Poor feeding
Debilitated and immunosuppressed A bulge in the soft spot on top of a baby's head (fontanel)
Stiffness in a baby's body and neck
Clinical Manifestations of viral meningitis Viral meningitis
Milder disease than bacterial meningitis Diagnosis
Headache Viruses normally detected in CSF and Blood using PCR
Fever If viral meningitis is CONFIRMED and a
Photophobia BACTERIAL cause is RULED OUT antibiotic
Less neck stiffness therapy can be withdrawn
HOWEVER
Differentiation of viral and bacterial meningitis CANNOT
Outcome of viral meningitis
Usually a benign course
be based on presentation
Leading to complete recovery
Empirical antibiotic therapy MUST be given
Signs and symptoms of fungal meningitis Bacterial meningitis
Fever Cryptococcus
Life threatening infection
Headache
Stiff neck Global burden of HIV‐related cryptococcal meningitis
Nausea and vomiting Requires urgent specific treatment
Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Altered mental status (confusion) Less common BUT more severe than viral meningitis
Immediate and early hospital management Empirical Therapy (Organism or susceptibility unknown)
If clinical suspicion of bacterial meningitis is high, therapy Adults and children >2 months
may be given Dexamethasone + Ceftriaxone OR Cefotaxime
Before CSF findings are available Antibiotics should not be delayed if corticosteroids are not
OR available
If delay is likely before lumbar puncture is performed If patient received Benzyl penicillin or Ceftriaxone prior to
hospitalization
If a CT scan is required before lumbar puncture DO NOT DO NOT GIVE Corticosteroids
WITHHOLD antibiotics while awaiting the scan Data shows benefit lost if given after first dose of antibiotics
CSF findings in bacterial, viral and fungal meningitis in adults Immediate and early hospital management of
patients with suspected meningitis
Normal Bacterial Viral Fungal/TB
Samples collected as soon as patient arrives in hospital
Appearance Clear Turbid Clear Clear or
Lumbar puncture should be undertaken A.S.A.P
cloudy
*CSF microscopy, culture and sensitivity (MCS) vital for directing therapy
Protein (mg/dL) 15‐45 >250 <100 25‐500
*Blood for blood culture
Glucose (mg/dL) 40‐85 <40 >40 >40
*Culture of swabs or aspirates of punctures skin lesions (meningococci)
Gram stain Negative Positive in Negative Not applicable
approx.70% Maximizes chance of isolating pathogen
WBCs (cells/L) 0‐5 Adults/Children >500 <100 <500 Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) also recommended
Other 90% Early: PMN Monocytes PCR of Blood, CSF and skin swabs or aspirates
PMN Late: Monocytes If patient has NOT received a Benzyl Penicillin or Ceftriaxone prior to
hospitalization give Dexamethasone within 30 minutes of arrival to hospital
Gram stain of CSF Isolation and identification of causative agents
Gram stain of CSF may enable an immediate Neisseria meningitidis (encapsulated)
aetiological diagnosis Growth on
HOWEVER often difficult to interpret chocolate blood agar
N. meningitidis H. influenzae Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae (encapsulated) Gram negative diplococci
Gram negative diplococci Gram negative rod Gram positive cocci in PMN
Growth on chocolate Gram negative rods
Requires X and V factors for growth
blood agar
Isolation and identification of causative agents
Sensitivity testing
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Antibiotic sensitivity testing
Gram positive cocci ‐ occur in pairs
Alpha haemolytic Necessary for directed therapy
Sensitive to optochin Can ONLY be conducted once
Encapsulated the organism has been cultured
>85 capsular types
Rapid tests for bacterial identification How long does it take to get the results of
Latex agglutination for rapid antigen detection diagnostic tests?
Sensitivity Specificity
S. pneumoniae 97% >99% Gram stain, Antigen detection, PCR
H. Influenzae > 80% >95% 2‐6 hours
N. meningitidis >80% >95% Isolation and identification
PCR 6‐48 hours
H. influenzae, N. meningitidis, S.pneumoniae and Listeria Sensitivity testing
monocytogenes (Sensitivity 87‐100%); Specificity (98‐100%) 48‐72 hours
The above tests are particularly beneficial if antibiotics
administered prior to specimen collection
Directed therapy for bacterial meningitis Directed therapy for bacterial meningitis
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of penicillin, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime Listeria moncytogenes
should be undertaken for ALL isolates
Benzyl Penicillin IV
Strains susceptible to Penicillin (MIC<0.125mg/L): Benzyl Penicillin IV
If patient allergic (non‐immediate) to Penicillins:
Strains susceptible to Ceftriaxone/cefotaxime (MIC<1.0 mg/L): Ceftriaxone IV OR Cefotaxime IV
Neisseria meningitidis Sulphamethoxazole + Trimethoprim
Benzyl Penicillin IV Streptococcus agalacticiae
If patient allergic (non‐immediate) to Penicillins: Ceftriaxone OR Cefotaxime IV Benzyl Penicillin IV
Immediate hypersensitivity Ciprofloxacin IV Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species
Haemophilus influenzae Type B Ceftriaxone OR Cefotaxime IV
Ceftriaxone OR Cefotaxime IV. If susceptibility confirmed Increasing resistance noted:
Immediate hypersensitivity Ciprofloxacin IV
Antibiotic susceptibility testing should be undertaken
Sequalae of meningitis
Estimated that up to 1 in every 2 or 3 people who survives bacterial meningitis is
Meningitis mortality and sequalae
left with one or more permanent problems. Less common in viral meningitis
Some of the most common complications associated with meningitis are:
Hearing loss ‐ may be partial or total UNTREATED
Recurrent seizures (epilepsy) 100% MORTALITY
Problems with memory and concentration
Co‐ordination, movement and balance problems
Learning difficulties and behavioural problems
*Treated Mortality* Sequalae*
Vision loss – (partial or total)
S. pneumonia 20‐30% 15‐20%
Loss of limbs – amputation sometimes necessary to stop the infection
spreading through the body and remove damaged tissue N. meningitidis 7‐10% <1%
Bone and joint problems eg. arthritis H. Influenzae 5% 9%
Kidney problems
Vaccination against meningitis
Neisseria meningitidis
Globally there are 13 strains of meningococcal disease, the most common being A, B, C, W135 and Y.
The two most common strains of meningococcal disease in Australia are B and C.
In Australia, meningococcal infections caused by strains B and C are vaccine preventable in all age groups, including
babies and young children.
Meningococcal C vaccination is recommended as part of routine childhood immunisation
While infection by strains A, W135 and Y are less common in Australia, vaccination is important in older children
and adults who are travelling overseas.
In Australia
Serogroup B has predominated, particularly since the meningococcal serogroup C (‘MenC’) conjugate vaccine
program began in 2003.
Of 194 cases of meningococcal disease notified in Australia in 2012, for which the serogroup could be determined,
83% were due to serogroup B. Remainder were due to serogroup C (6%), serogroup W135 (4%) and serogroup Y(8%)
Haemophilus influenzae Type B
Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB) vaccine
http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/nips