What is Meningitis ?

Meningitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease, and involves an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges.

This inflammation can be caused by bacterial infections or viral infections.

General Characteristic for Bacterial Meningitis

Majority of cases caused by 2 types of bacteria.

Neisseria meningitidis; Commonly known as Meningococcal meningitis.

Streptococcus pneumoniae; Commonly known as Pneumococcal Meningitis.

General Characteristics for Bacterial Meningitis

Neisseria meningitidis

Morphology: Cocci Arrangement:

usually pairs (diplococci) or sometimes chains

Gram negative

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Morphology: Cocci Arrangement:

Usually chains, pairs, or even singles

Gram positive

General Characteristics for Viral Meningitis

- Most Commonly caused by enteroviruses.

- Enteroviruses are small, non-enveloped, and single strand RNA.

- Are heat and acid stable & can live on moist surfaces for hours.

Virulence Factors for Bacterial Meningitis

Meningococci Factors Polysaccharide capsule

inhibits osponophagocytosis, thus enhancing bacterial survival during invasion.

Secrete an IgA protease and produce factors that inhibit ciliary activity to escape host mucosal defenses.

Pneumococci Factors Pneumolysin has been

shown to damage endothelial cells and compromise the integrity of the blood-brain barrier

Glycosidase and hyaluronidase degrades components of the extracellular matrix and also facilitates development of meningitis.

Virulence Factors for Viral Meningitis

Signs & Symptoms fever lethargy (decreased

consciousness) irritability headache photophobia (eye

sensitivity to light) stiff neck skin rashes seizures

Transmission Both viral meningitis

and bacterial meningitis can be spread through contact with nose and throat secretions.

Examples: Sharing a glass, cup or eating utensil, coughing or sneezing into the face of another person, or sharing a cigarette.

Viral meningitis can also be transmitted by fecal contamination when an infected person sheds or excretes virus in his/her stool.

Treatment Treatment for

bacterial meningitis usually involves intravenous antibiotics. The earlier the treatment is initiated, the better the outcome.

Treatment for viral meningitis is usually supportive (aimed at relieving symptoms).

There are no specific medications to treat the organisms that cause viral meningitis.

Prevention of Meningitis # 1 way to prevent

meningitis…. HANDWASHING !!!

Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine

Why Be Concerned Meningitis?

Approximately 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal meningitis occur on college campuses each year, and five to 15 students will die.

Permanent neurological damage, including hearing loss, blindness, loss of speech, learning disabilities, behavior problems and brain damage, even paralysis.

Meningococcal meningitis strikes 1,400 to 3,000 Americans each year and is responsible for approximately 150 to 300 deaths.