Infectious Disease

Question 1

What areas of the body does menningitis cause to become inflammed?

Answer 1

membranes around brain and spinal cord; involves arachnoid, pia mater, and CSF

Question 2

What causes the inflammation in meningitis?

Answer 2

infection
tumors
stroke
trauma
etc.

Question 3

Meningitis more common in who?

Answer 3

children (70%)
male>female

Question 4

Asceptic menningitis?

Answer 4

no readily identifiable organism,
could be anything not bacterial but, also includes some bacterium that do not grow easily
(could be viral, fungal, syphilis, TB, lymes, atypical bacteria, chemical irritation, malignancy or drug induced)

Question 5

3 main ways meningitis can arise?

Answer 5

hematogenous (blood)
contigous (from URTI)
direct inoculation (surgery/ trauma)

Question 6

Pathogenesis of Meningitis?

Answer 6

mucosal colonization and bacterial invasion of host and CNS
Bacterial replication in subarachnoid space
inflam and pathophysiological changes
Increased intracranial pressure, cerebral edema, and neuronal damage

Question 7

Bacteria that commonly cause meningitis?

Answer 7

H. Influenza
N. meningitidis
S pneumoniae

Question 8

Properties of meningitis common bacteria that enhance there virulence?

Answer 8

make immunoglobulin A proteases
cleaving certain antibodies
N. meningitidis can adhere to cells by means of pili
encapsulated by polysacchride

Question 9

Risk factors for meningitis?

Answer 9

congenital or traumatic defects
previous viral infection
age: over 60, under 5, infant***
low socioeconomic status
overcrowding
exposure to pathogens (IV drug use, surgery, splenic dysfunction, immunosuppression, bacterial endocarditis, recent colonization)