Meningitis CHAMINDA UNANTENNE RN MSN MENINGITIS INFECTION OF

Meningitis CHAMINDA UNANTENNE, RN, MSN

MENINGITIS INFECTION OF THE MENINGES AND SPINAL CHORD. It can be bacterial or viral

IMPORTANT CSF IS IMPORTANT IN ANALYSIS OF MENINGITIS.

ETIOLOGY Bacterial • Neisseria Meningitis • Strep Pneumo Signs and Symptoms( non specific) • Malaise, fever, vomiting, headache, irritability • Kerning's signs: extending knees and leg causes pain • Brudzinski’s signs: flexing neck causes flexion of legs. Specific signs and symptoms • Photophobia and nuchal rigidity Contact Isolation. Treatments Antibiotics: IV Ceftriaxone, Vancomycin.

CSF ANALYSIS • WBC COUNT ELEVATED PROTEIN ELEVATED GLUCOSE DECREASED GRAM STAIN, CULTURE

DIAGNOSIS • Papilledema: sign of increased ICP or mass: LP may not be performed, instead CT scan may be recommended. • First blood cultures before antibiotics. • Then if suspected increased ICP, or mass CT scan if not LP.

VIRAL MENINGITIS Types of Viruses • Entero Virus • Mums virus • Measles virus • Herpes virus Standard Precautions.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Very similar to bacterial meningitis Children • Fever, irritability, loss of appetite, trouble waking up. Adults • Fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, sleepiness, trouble waking up, N/V, loss of appetite. Similar to bacterial meningitis except less severe Most cases recover within 2 weeks Treatment is supportive care: anti pyretic, fluids, nutrition.

A 20 year old male student develops an acute headache, fever and rash while visiting his family. When he came to the ER he has a widespread petechial rash and stiff neck and his BP is 70/45 mm. Hg. He is treated with empiric antibiotics, and the spinal fluid tap reveals a large number of polynuclear leukocytes and gram negative diplococci. What is the most likely diagnosis? THANKS