This is part of the Med in Small Doses series, which aims to give you a snapshot of a disease or disorder. For information about the series, or common abbreviations click here.
Acute purulent infection of SAS - ↑ ICP, Stroke. Fatal: 5-40%, permanent neuro injury ~10%
PATHO: Invasion of SAS → Inflammatory Cytokines → vasogenic & cytogenic odema, cell death & injury → ICP → Coma → Death
Common Bugs: Explaining Hot Neck Stiffness (young to old)
E.coli [Infants]
H.influenzae [Kids]
N.meningiditis [Adults] – in ~25% of cases
S.pneumonaie [Old] – in ~50% of cases
Also consider Group B Strep and S.aureus (rare, but neurosurgical). NHS is another way of remembering the common pathogens for our UK friends.
CFs: Triad (Fever, Headache, nuchal rigidity). N&V, photophobia, rash, ↑ ICP, seizures (40%)
RFs: Hx of respiratory illness in the past 2 weeks in 50% of patients.
Ix: Blood Cultures, CT/MRI, LP (↓glu, ↑protein, ↑WBC)
Tx: Begin Abs within 60mins of patients arrival.
Empirical: Dexamethoasone + Ceftriaxone + Vancomycin + Acyclovir (incase of possible viral meningitis)
Adjunctive: Dexa (20min before Abs), Mannitol (↓ICP)
Px: Vaccination, Rifampicin (meningococcal), Cephalosporins
The rationale behind prevention, is more to eradicate the reservoir of the pathogen, rather than primary prevention of bacterial meningitis.
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