Meningococcal infections

Question 1

What is meningitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the meninges which cover the brain and spinal cord

Question 2

What are the 3 layers of the meninges?

Answer 2

Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

Question 3

True or false: meningitis is caused by 2 types of virus

Answer 3

False. There are many types of viruses and bacteria that can cause meningitis. As can some fungi, protozoa, parasites and non-infectious causes like medications, cancers and autoimmune disease

Question 4

Neisseria meningitidis is an i_____ meningococcal disease

Answer 4

injection

Question 5

True or false: neisseria meningitidis is gram-positive diplococci?

Answer 5

False - it is a gram-negative diplococci

Question 6

Transmission of neisseria meningitidis

Answer 6

Respiratory droplets/ naso-pharyngeal secretions, requires frequent or prolonged close contact

Question 7

Septicaemia

Answer 7

A systemic infection with widespread signs, and generalised organ damage

Question 8

Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis

Answer 8

Fever, stiff neck (swelling of meninges causes pain when stretched), headaches, confusion, photophobia, nausea and vomiting
Much more difficult to spot in babies, slow, irritable, vomiting, feeding poorly, bulging anterior fontanelle (soft spot of skull)

Question 9

What is Brudkzinski’s neck sign?

Answer 9

Lie child down on back, lift head up to stretch neck, if have meningitis should automatically draw knees up to relieve stretching of meninges.

Question 10

Symptoms of Septicaemia sypmtoms

Answer 10

Fever and chills, fatigue, vomiting, rapid breathing, cold hands and feet, diarrhoea, Non-blanching rash due to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
Later stages = dark purple rash (purpura)

Question 11

Sepsis can cause Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation. Activation of coagulation pathways cause formation of…

Answer 11

intravascular thrombi and depletion of platelets and coagulation factors.

Question 12

What can the intravascular thrombi in DIC cause

Answer 12

arterial occlusions leading to gangrene of extremities and auto-amputations

Question 13

Regardless of cause, all cases of suspected ______ are notifiable and must be notified without delay

Answer 13

meningitis

Question 14

Antibiotics given to close contacts to eradicate t____ carriage

Answer 14

throat (that contact may still develop meningitis but it should stop them spreading it to others)