Meningitis Flashcards
What is meningitis?
Inflammation of the meninges.
What are meninges?
Protective coverings of the brain & spinal cord.
What is sepsis/septicemia?
The presence and replication of bacteria in the bloodstream.
Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram ________ ___________ bacteria.
negative, diplococcus
Neisseria meningitidis has a sugar-based _______ that looks like a cloud and prevents it from getting phagocytized by macrophages.
capsule
How is Neisseria meningitidis transmitted?
By droplets, human-to-human
How does Neisseria menigitidis enter the body?
Through the body’s mucosal membranes (nose, throat, eyes) and then may enter the bloodstream/CSF.
The main virulence factor of Neisseria mengitidis is its _________, _____ _.
endotoxin, Lipid A
What are the steps of diagnosis for Neissieria meningitidis?
- Spinal tap (puncture spine & take CSF sample)
- Gram test
- Culture bacteria in lab on artificial media
- Serogroup for epidemiology
- Determine susceptibility to antibiotics
Describe treatment for Neisseria meningitidis.
Administration of antibiotics ASAP - as soon as the spinal tap is done.
What symptoms are associated with meningitis?
Headache (due to high intercranial pressure), stiff neck, nausea, sore throat, petechiae, photosensitivity, coma.
What symptoms are characteristic of sepsis/septicemia?
Fever, petechiae/purpura, shock (due to drastic change in BP), hemorrhaging, DIC, internal organ failure.
