CNS Infections Intro Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is encephalitis?
diffuse infection of parenchyma
What is meningitis?
inflammation of the subarachnoid space
What is the most common type meningitis?
viral
What is the most worrisome type of meningitis?
bacterial
What is a brain abscess?
focal infection of parenchyma
How can an abscess cause meningitis?
if it ruptures
What is encephalopathy?
diffuse cerebral disfunction without inflammation due to toxin or metabolic dysfunction
Immune cells in CNS
microglia, astrocytes
What is spreading in the blood called?
hematogenous dissemination
This organism causes meningitis and has a 25% mortality rate
Listeria monocytogenes
Complication of abscess after LP and need for imaging
possibility of herniation
What might induce herniation when abscess is present?
LP
Preferred Abx for empiric Tx of suspected meningitis?
3rd generation cephalosporin + ampicillin
What Tx is used to treat inflammation in the subarachnoid space?
dexamethasone
What is the function of giving steroids in meningitis?
prevent long-complications
Mechanism of action of cephtriaxone and ampicillin
transpeptidation of peptidoglycan
Potential neurotoxic side effect of cephtriaxone
seizures
Bacterial meningitis:
WBC
Protein
Glucose
WBC: high (leukocytes)
Protein: high
Glucose: low
Viral meningitis:
WBC
Protein
Glucose
WBC: slightly elevated (lymphocytes)
Protein: slightly elevated
Glucose: normal
Mechanism of gentamicin
ribosome inhibitor, aminoglycoside class
What are the big three CSF levels we look at for meningitis?
WBC
Protein
Glucose
What symptoms are seen in encephalitis that are not seen in meningitis? **
sensory and motor deficits
What is pleocytosis?
white blood cells in the CSF
Encephalitis: focal or global?
usually focal
