Bacterial meningitis: Difference between revisions

From IDWiki
m (Aidan moved page CNS Bacterial meningitis to Bacterial meningitis without leaving a redirect)
mNo edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
= Bacterial meningitis =
= Bacterial meningitis =


== Definition ==
= Definition =


* Bacterial infection of meninges
* Bacterial infection of meninges


== Etiology ==
= Etiology =


* Adults
* Adults
Line 21: Line 21:
** Gram-negatives
** Gram-negatives


== Risk factors ==
= Risk factors =


* Immunosuppression
* Immunosuppression
Line 33: Line 33:
* Chronic otitis media
* Chronic otitis media


== Presentation ==
= Presentation =


* Typically, an acute onset of headache with fever and vomiting after viral prodrome
* Typically, an acute onset of headache with fever and vomiting after viral prodrome
Line 48: Line 48:
* Ask about recent travel and sick contacts
* Ask about recent travel and sick contacts


== Investigations ==
= Investigations =


* Lab
* Lab
Line 62: Line 62:
** Lumbar puncture after CT head
** Lumbar puncture after CT head


=== CSF Interpretation ===
== CSF Interpretation ==


* Gram stain positive
* Gram stain positive
Line 71: Line 71:
* PMNs >1180
* PMNs >1180


== Management ==
= Management =


* Blood cultures before antibiotics
* Blood cultures before antibiotics
Line 89: Line 89:
* Adjust antibiotics based on Gram stain and cultures
* Adjust antibiotics based on Gram stain and cultures


== Complications ==
= Complications =


* Cerebral edema with raised ICP
* Cerebral edema with raised ICP
Line 99: Line 99:
* Venous sinus thrombosis
* Venous sinus thrombosis
* Cranial nerve palsies, especially deafness
* Cranial nerve palsies, especially deafness

[[Category:CNS infections]]

Revision as of 17:32, 12 August 2019

Bacterial meningitis

Definition

  • Bacterial infection of meninges

Etiology

  • Adults
    • Streptococcus pneumoniae
    • Neisseria meningitidis
    • Listeria monocytogenes in immunocompromised, elderly, alcoholics, adn diabetes
    • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Infants:
    • Group B Streptococcus
    • Escherichia coli
    • Haemophilus influenza
    • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Head trauma or neurosurgery
    • Staphylococcus aureus
    • Gram-negatives

Risk factors

  • Immunosuppression
  • Diabetes
  • Splenic dysfunction or splenectomy (e.g. sickle cell)
  • Alcoholism
  • Recent neurosurgery
  • CSF leak
  • Shunt infections
  • Head trauma
  • Chronic otitis media

Presentation

  • Typically, an acute onset of headache with fever and vomiting after viral prodrome
  • Bacterial vs. aseptic/viral meningitis
  • Headache or neck pain (70-80%)
  • Fever (75%)
  • Altered level of consciousness (70%)
  • Clinical signs
    • Brudzinski's sign (unhelpful)
    • Kernig's sign (may be specific)
    • Jolt test (very sensitive)
    • Seizures or focal neurological deficits (rare, poor prognosis)
    • Rash (purpuric with Neisseria)
  • Ask about recent travel and sick contacts

Investigations

  • Lab
    • CBC with differential
    • Electrolytes
    • Liver enzymes
    • Blood cultures
  • Imaging
    • CT head to rule out abscess or increased ICP
    • MRI head if suspicion for herpes encephalitis
      • Temporal lobe enhancement (usually unilateral)
  • Other
    • Lumbar puncture after CT head

CSF Interpretation

  • Gram stain positive
  • Glucose <1.0
  • CSF:blood glucose <0.23
  • Protein >2.2
  • WBC >2000
  • PMNs >1180

Management

  • Blood cultures before antibiotics
  • Start empiric antibiotics and dexamethasone
    • Infants
    • Children
    • Adults
      • Ceftriaxone 2g bid
      • vancomycin 1g q12h
      • +/- ampicillin 2g 14h if >50
      • Dexamethasone 10mg q6h x72h
      • +/- acyclovir
    • >65 years old
      • Treat like immunocompromised
  • CT head if reduced or altered level of consciousness
  • Lumbar puncture
  • Adjust antibiotics based on Gram stain and cultures

Complications

  • Cerebral edema with raised ICP
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Seizures
  • Arterial ischemia or infarction
  • SIADH
  • Subdural effusion or subdural empyema
  • Venous sinus thrombosis
  • Cranial nerve palsies, especially deafness

References

  1. a b c  Michael C. Thigpen, Cynthia G. Whitney, Nancy E. Messonnier, Elizabeth R. Zell, Ruth Lynfield, James L. Hadler, Lee H. Harrison, Monica M. Farley, Arthur Reingold, Nancy M. Bennett, Allen S. Craig, William Schaffner, Ann Thomas, Melissa M. Lewis, Elaine Scallan, Anne Schuchat. Bacterial Meningitis in the United States, 1998–2007. New England Journal of Medicine. 2011;364(21):2016-2025. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1005384.