Bacterial meningitis – causes, symptoms, treatment

Proven content

Meningitis is a dangerous disease with high mortality that can leave a permanent mark on the body. The disease can be a complication of an apparently harmless sinusitis or otitis media.

What is meningitis

Meningitis is a dangerous infectious disease that must be treated in a hospital and must be reported to the sanitary and epidemiological station.

Inflammation includes the meninges, in particular the soft and subarachnoid and subarachnoid space, and in some cases the brain may also be affected, in which case this condition is referred to as meningitis and encephalitis.

Meningitis is the result of the penetration of microorganisms into the cerebrospinal fluid through the blood or the transition from contaminated sites during cranial trauma (e.g. fracture of the skull base) or in the course of otitis media or sinusitis. In health, the cerebrospinal fluid is sterile.

The basic classification of meningitis:

-bacterial meningitis:

– purulent

— kidney open

-viral meningitis

-fungal meningitis

Bacterial meningitis, especially purulent forms, are diseases with a worse prognosis and a higher risk of complications or death than viral meningitis. Bacterial inflammations account for about half of all meningitis, and 90% of them are purulent infections. According to the data of the National Institute of Hygiene, in 2008, a total of 1064 cases of bacterial meningitis were registered in Poland, which is approximately 3 cases per 100. population.

Bacteria that cause meningitis

The most common pathogens causing meningitis include:

– purulent infections: meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis), pneumococcal (Streptococcus pneumoniae), chopsticks Haemophilus influenzae, chopsticks Escherichia coligroup B streptococci (Streptococcus agalactiae), golden staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus)

– non-pyrogenic infections: mycobacteria tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), chopsticks Listeria monocytogenesspirochetes Borrelia/Lyme disease (transmitted by ticks). You can buy the test for early detection of Borrelia spirochete infection at a pharmacy or online (check the offer).

The type of bacteria that causes meningitis depends largely on the health of our immune system and a number of risk factors. Age is one of the factors that influence the type of bacteria that causes meningitis. In newborns, meningitis is most often the result of infection with gram-negative bacilli Escherichia coli or group B streptococci. In infants from 2 months of age and in children up to 5 years of age, meningitis is the result of infection with bacilli Haemophilus influenzae, and in older children, adolescents and adults, meningococci and pneumococci are the predominant bacteria causing meningitis.

Factors that increase your risk of developing bacterial meningitis include:

1. staying in large groups of people, e.g. barracks, boarding houses, dormitories, discos – typical in the case of meningococcal infection;
2. acute or chronic sinusitis or otitis media;
3. skull injuries, especially fractures of the skull bones;
4. alcoholism, drug addiction;
5. immunosuppressive treatment;
6. neoplastic disease, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver;
7. lack of spleen;
8. neurosurgical treatments; implantation of a drain draining the cerebrospinal fluid in the course of hydrocephalus.

Symptoms of meningitis

Meningitis most often occurs due to close contact with an infected person or the person carrying the bacteria. In the case of the main pathogens causing meningitis, the carrier of these bacteria in the nasopharyngeal cavity is characteristic.

Bacteria enter the body when sneezing, kissing or through objects, e.g. the same glass, cutlery or the same apple, sandwich – the habit of being served by children.

The course of meningitis is similar regardless of the type of bacteria causing the infection. Most often, after 2-5 days after infection, the following symptoms appear:

1. high fever, up to 40 ° C, often with chills
2. muscle and joint pain
3. severe headache and neck pain
4. nausea, vomiting
5. stiff neck
6. in severe course: disturbance of consciousness – including loss of consciousness, convulsions, drowsiness, apathy

The consequence of a history of purulent bacterial meningitis may be neurological complications, such as:

1. epilepsy,
2. brain abscesses,
3. limb paresis or paralysis,
4. deafness or poor hearing
5. speech disorders or personality disorders.

In the course of this type of meningitis, high mortality is also observed – approx. 20%, especially in the case of infections with staphylococcus aureus.

Making a diagnosis of meningitis

One of the hallmarks of the diagnosis of meningitis is the clinical picture, but the type of bacteria causing meningitis must be determined very quickly in order to receive appropriate treatment. The basic examination in this case is the examination of the cerebrospinal fluid collected during the lumbar puncture. On the basis of the image of the fluid, it is possible to determine whether the inflammation is bacterial or viral, in addition, after performing microbiological tests, it is possible to identify the etiological factor and to which antibiotics it is susceptible to.

The following tests are helpful in establishing the diagnosis: computed tomography of the head, blood cultures and throat swabs.

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Therapeutic management of meningitis

If bacterial meningitis is suspected, an intravenous antibiotic should be started as soon as possible.

In addition, the treatment of meningitis also involves the administration of anti-inflammatory and anti-edema drugs (preventing cerebral edema). The patient must remain in bed for at least 2-3 weeks.

Prevention of bacterial meningitis

Vaccination is the best way to prevent bacterial meningitis. Currently, vaccines are available on the market against the main pathogens, namely: meningococci, pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae type B (compulsory vaccination according to the Vaccination Calendar).

In some situations, after close contact with a patient with purulent meningitis caused by meningococcus or Haemophilus influenzae there is a possibility of using the so-called post-exposure chemoprophylaxis – single administration of an antibiotic (ciprofloxacin, rifapmicin or ceftriaxone). Such management reduces the risk of disease in unvaccinated people who have very close contact with the sick person.

Additionally, when caring for a patient with bacterial meningitis (especially meningococcal infections), use face masks and gloves, and wash hands after contact with the patient or his secretions.

Here are some products that will help you to care for hygiene when you come into contact with a sick person:

1. Antibacterial bar soap – compare prices
2. liquid antibacterial soap – compare prices
3. disposable gloves – compare prices
4. surgical masks – check the offer

When caring for the sick, it is also worth having an antibacterial gel with a strong effect, which not only disinfects the hands, but also moisturizes them thanks to the aloe vera content.

Text: Mirosław Jawień, MD, PhD