...Meningitis BACTERIAL MENINGITIS April 18, 2012 What is meningitis? Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as MENINGES. People sometimes refer to it as spinal meningitis. Etiology Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness and the treatment differ. “In the United States, about 4,100 cases of bacterial meningitis, including 500 deaths, occurred each year between 2003–2007”. (Thigpen MC, Whitney CG, Messonnier NE, Zell ER, Lynfield R, Hadler JL, 2011). Meningitis can be caused by a variety of organism, but bacterial meningitis is caused by three bacteria with complex code names: 1. Haemophilus influenzae type b, (Hib) 2. Pneumococcus (noo-muh-KAHK-us) 3. Meningococcus (meh-NIN-juh-KAHK-us) Hib goes for the 2 month olds to 3 year olds. Pneumococcus hits infants, toddlers, and elderly people hardest. Meningococcus targets children younger than 1 year old. Cause Before the 1990s, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, but new vaccines being given to all children as part of their routine immunizations have reduced the occurrence of invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae. (www.cdc.gov, 2010) Hib meningitis can cause: pneumonia, and throat swelling, and can literally infect the blood, bones, joints, and the...
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...INTRODUCTION Bacterial meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the meninges, the membranes lining the brain and spinal cord. In a recent survey by the Hib and Pneumococcal Working Group, the incidence of meningitis in 2000 varied from regions across the world. The overall incidence of pneumococcal meningitis was 17 cases per 100,000, with the highest incidence in Africa at 38 cases per 100,000 and the lowest incidence in Europe at 6 cases per 100,000. The overall death rate was 10 cases per 100,000. The highest death rate was 28 cases per 100,000 in Africa, and the lowest death rates were 3 cases per 100,000 in Europe and Western Pacific regions. (Hom, 2009) Bacterial meningitis more frequently occurs in black and Hispanic children. This is thought to be related to socioeconomic rather than racial factors The brain and spinal cord are remarkably resistant to infection, but when they become infected, the consequences are usually very serious. Infections may be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and occasionally protozoa or parasites. The most common type of CNS infection is Bacterial Meningitis which is characterized by inflammation of the meninges, the membranes lining the brain and spinal cord. (Hom, 2009. Almost any bacteria entering the body can cause meningitis. The most common are meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis), pneumococci (Streptococcus pneumonia), and Haemophilus influenza. Thtese organisms are often present in the nasopharynx. S. pneumonia and N....
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...Bacterial Meningitis 1 Running head: THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROBLEM OF BACTERAIL MENINGITIS The Epidemiological Problem of Bacterial Meningitis: Risk Factors, Interrelatedness, Impact and Prevention Mandy Stocks University of South Carolina Spartanburg Bacterial Meningitis 2 The Epidemiological Problem of Bacterial Meningitis: Risk Factors, Interrelatedness, Impact and Prevention Bacterial meningitis is an inflammatory condition of the meninges or membranes that form the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The most common pathogens responsible for bacterial meningitis include: Neisseria memingitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes. The disease in all ages continues to be a serious cause of morbidity and mortality, despite the introduction of effective antibiotics and preventative therapy. Bacterial meningitis is a serious disease that can result in brain damage and even death. The following will describe the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis and the effects it has on the individual, family and community, and the role of the community health nurse. Epidemiological Problem Description of problem Bacterial meningitis is a common infectious disease that has been diagnosed throughout the world. In general, it affects the very young and the very old and favors males over females. “According to the Centers for Disease Control...
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...Bacterial Meningitis Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Meningitis can be acute, with a quick onset of symptoms, it can be chronic, and lasting a month or more, or it can be mild or aseptic. Acute bacterial meningitis is the most common form of meningitis.Meningitis is a disease that can be passed from person to person (contagious). It is caused most often by viruses or bacteria that infect the tissues, meninges and sometimes the fluid (cerebral spinal fluid, or CSF) that surround the brain and spinal cord. Organisms that cause meningitis can be passed from one person to another or passed from rodents and insects to people. But exposure to an organism that causes meningitis does not mean you will get the infection. During birth, a mother can pass organisms that cause meningitis to her baby even if the mother does not have symptoms. Delivering a baby by cesarean section rather than through the birth canal does not always protect the baby from getting the infection. Both bacteria and viruses can be transmitted this way. Through stool, stool could have enteroviruses or certain types of bacteria in it. Washing hands on a regular basis can help prevent you and your children from getting infected this way. More children than adults get meningitis this way. Through coughing and sneezing. Infected people can pass certain bacteria that are normally found in saliva or mucus in their noses and throats. Through kissing...
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...Meningitis This paper is about meningitis, but is will be mainly about bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is a disease that attacks the nervous system. The very fact that this disease attacks the nervous system makes it extremely threatening since the nervous system is responsible for the controlling and communication of the body. Often times, people who survive an attack from meningitis suffer from neurological damage including brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. In some cases, people would recover from meningitis, but their brain just isn’t the same and there could be possible affects in the future of the person. One survivor of meningitis, because of the damage meningitis did to their brain, would go mentally insane after...
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...At the age of two months old my brother was diagnosed with meningitis in the year of 1978. He had a fever of 104.0 and was taken to St.Christopher’s hospital but then after a few hours was released by staff, stating there was nothing more that they could do. My mother then took him to CHOP Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia where they immediately started running test on him. The results were in. the doctor’s had concluded that he had a rare case of meningitis, and would need to stay in the hospital for a while before they could find a cure or treatment. In the mean time the staff did everything they could to break the fever, and once it was broken they realized something. My brother wasn’t making any sounds or noises even when they called his name. The social worker came into the room, and spoke to my mother regarding our experience at St.Christopher’s hospital.She was told to speak to a lawyer at once to take legal action for the safety of her child. My mom was grateful to the staff and she thanked them for saving my brothers life. The Er nurses and doctors explained to us that he would have died if he hadn’t come to the Er the time that he did. This is a very serious condition and at this time very less about it was known. Several weeks later the fever finally dropped and stabilized but his hearing was lost. This was such a big transition for us to adjust to but, without knowing how we were going to communicate...
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...Abstract (Introduction – states the topic and the main questions to be explored) Meningitis is an infection of the meninges which is detrimental to the central nervous system. Since the brain is the control center of the body, if a problem develops it ultimately affects other parts of the body having the ability to properly function. It is important to get diagnosed quickly. Without proper education meningitis can be misinterpreted for another illness and if not treated can result in death. In this paper we will examine what is meningitis, how does affect homeostasis, what is the cause, how it is treated and how can it be prevented. Meningitis Meningitis is an infection of the meninges. The CNS (central nervous system) which consists of the brain and spinal cord, reply on meninges for stability and shock absorption. Meninges are tree layers of membrane serving as a cover to protect the brain and the spinal cord (book, pg 260). When there is an infection of the meninges they become inflamed and can be fatal. Meningitis comes in many forms. Bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, fungal meningitis, parasitic meningitis, amebic meningitis and non-infectious...
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...Meningitis is a neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord which protect the central nervous system (Rowland, Pedley, and Merritt, 2010). These membranes are; the dura mater, the pia mater, and the arachnoid mater. Determining whether the condition is viral or bacterial is important because while viral meningitis does not cause serious illness, bacterial meningitis is very serious. Bacterial meningitis requires urgent treatment because it can lead to death or brain damage. Viral meningitis, which is also known as aseptic meningitis, causes prolonged seizures and fever and a patient can get well within two weeks. It is also important to know the type of bacteria causing meningitis...
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...Meningococcal Meningitis is an infection of the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal bacteria enter the membranes, also known as the meninges, leading to inflammation. This increased pressure causes damage to surrounding nerves and the brain which if left untreated can lead to neurological symptoms, permanent brain damage and even death (emedicine.com). The infection is highly communicable through airborne transmission via respiratory or nasal secretions (ref). Meningitis is split into A, B, C, W135, Y and Z subgroups with __ being the most common subtype (ref). Figure 1 shows the how the incidence rates have decreased from 1989 with various vaccinations for the different meningitis subtype. Now, approximately 3200 new cases present in the UK with incidences highest in newborns and infants. Children have immature immune systems which makes them susceptible to infection as there is little to no phagocytic immune responses (neo). This however was not the case during the outbreak in West Africa in 1996 which was, at the time, estimated to have more than 100,000 cases in just 3 months with over 10,000...
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...Bacterial meningitis occurs when the protective lining around the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges, becomes infected by a virus, fungus, or bacteria. While viral infections are the most common cause of meningitis, bacteria is often the most severe etiology. If left untreated, meningitis can be fatal, causing inflammation and swelling around the brain. This increases intracranial pressure, which can lead to stroke, seizures, or herniation of the brain into the foramen magnum. The proximity of the infection to the brain and spinal cord means the early detection and treatment of bacterial meningitis is crucial in treatment of patients. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of bacterial meningitis through the use of pertinent,...
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...prevention of meningitis. It discusses the different and most effective ways to diagnose meningitis, such as lumbar puncture, blood cultures, computed tomography, and electronic resonance imaging. Evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid is the key element in diagnosing meningitis. This article also points out that it is important to start therapies as soon as possible while waiting for the scan results, blood cultures, and lumbar puncture. It is suggested to start antimicrobial therapy or concomitant dexamethasone based on the patient’s history and physical exam, and what type of meningitis is suspected. It is extremely important to determine whether the meningitis is bacterial or aseptic, because bacterial meningitis is life threatening. The mortality rate in adults with bacterial meningitis in developed countries is 21 percent, and in children it is 3 percent. (Bamberger, 2010) In this article we are given a rundown of the common symptoms of bacterial meningitis such as fever, neck stiffness, nausea, headache, altered mental status, seizure, and papilledema. It also states that there are conjugate vaccines available to help with prevention of bacterial meningitis. These include meningococcal, pneumococcal, and H. influenzae vaccines. This article was educational for me because it gives you information that is important to know about meningitis that most people may not know. I now know what signs to look for in my children if they were to ever contract meningitis. The implications...
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...In September 2012 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received reports of patients being diagnosed with fungal meningitis. After investigation the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration were able to trace the outbreak to contaminated preservative free methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) epidural steroid injections that had been made at the New England Compound Center (NECC), in Framingham, Massachusetts. In total 753 cases were reported across 20 states, and 64 patients died. The majority of patients received spinal injections of the MPA that had been infected with the fungus Exserohilum rostratum, a common dermatiacious mold that is found in soil, plants and grasses and is rarely pathogenic in humans. (MMWR). This outbreak brought...
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...Spinal Meningitis Meningitis instantly can strike and the impact of that strike can forever last a lifetime. Meningitis is the inflammation and infection of the meninges that surround your brain and spinal cord. It can cause the tissues around the brain to swell and could be life threatening. In this research paper I will discuss the different kinds of meningitis and how they affect you. Meningitis is a dangerous infection because the brain is so delicate and fragile. Meningitis can advance very quickly because of the infection around the brain and spinal cord. This infection can be bacterial, viral or fungal. People and children under the age of 20 are at a higher risk. The antibiotics given are very strong and powerful and often can...
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...INTRODUCTION Review of Related Literature Pneumonitis Pneumonitis is a general term that refers to inflammation of lung tissue. It occurs when some irritating substance – solid particles, liquids, gases, radiation or bacteria – cause the tiny air sacs to become inflamed. This can hamper the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air sacs. Pneumonia is one type of pneumonitis caused by an infection. There are several types of pneumonitis. They include: • Aspiration pneumonitis- occurs when you inhale (aspirate) foreign matter into your lungs. Stomach contents, such as ingested food or liquid, are a frequent cause of aspiration pneuomonitis. Accidental inhalation of small particles, such as tiny pieces of peanuts or vegetables, while swallowing is common in young children. • Chemical pneumonitis- is a type of aspiration pneumonitis that develops when you inhale chemicals that are toxic to your lungs. Industrial and household chemicals, such as chlorine gas, ammonia, solvents and pesticides can all cause chemical pneumonitis. • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis- is nicknamed “farmer’s lung,” “mushroom picker’s disease” and other colorful names with good reason. Dust from animal dander, molds and plants, all potential allergens, can provoke an inflammatory reaction in your lungs. Symptoms usually develop within six hours of exposure to the allergen. Some people are more susceptible to developing hypersensitivity pneumonitis than are others, although it’s...
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...for Hajj Pilgrims Even before few years, the fully Halal meningitis vaccine was a dream for the Muslim world but now it’s a reality. The long waited Halal meningitis vaccine named ‘Menveo’ is now available worldwide. Many Muslim countries including the Saudi Arabia has approved it and many have instructed to replace the previously used one with this Halal vaccine. According to the available information meningitis vaccine earlier produced, contained materials of bovine or porcine origin. Due to this reason the Muslims had been complaining against those vaccines and pressuring for producing completely Halal vaccine from Halal ingredients. Due to this demand from the Muslim world an ‘apparently Halal’ vaccine was produced named Mencevax. It is alleged that Mencevex even used porcine ingredients at manufacturing stage but the finished product could be made porcine free with the blessings of latest scientific technologies. Nevertheless to say that Bangladesh is still using this ‘apparently halal’ vaccine though completely halal vaccine is available in the market. However, the government is under pressure to use halal vaccine especially for the hajj pilgrims. The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) has recently forwarded a letter to the ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 19 March 2012 (Ref.: nve/ ¯^vcKg/†gwbbRvBwUR/cÖ`vb/2012/137) and urged the government to take necessary measures to collect halal meningitis vaccine for the hajj pilgrims. It should be mentioned...
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