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| Resident Survival Guide |
Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox
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Meningitis Main Page |
For patient information click here.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Niloofarsadaat Eshaghhosseiny, MD[2] Alara Ece Dagsali, M.D. Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [3]
Synonyms and keywords: Leptomeningitis, Inflammation of meninges
The meninges (singular meninx) is the system of membranes which envelop the central nervous system. The meninges consist of three layers: the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater. The primary function of the meninges and of the cerebrospinal fluid is to protect the central nervous system. Meningitis is the inflammation of these protective membranes.
Meningitis may have been described in the Middle Ages, but it was first accurately identified by the Swiss Vieusseux (a scientific-literary association) during an outbreak in Geneva, Switzerland in 1805. In 1661, Thomas Willis first described the inflammation of meninges and an epidemic of meningitis. In the 17th century, Robert Whytt provided a detailed explanation of tuberculous meningitis and its stages. This was further elaborated by John Cheyne in the same century. Meningococcal meningitis was than described by Gaspard Vieusseux, Andre Matthey in Geneva and Elisa North in Massachussetes.
Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, including infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other organisms) or non-infectious causes, such as systemic illnesses that may involve CNS (e.g. neoplasms or connective tissue diseases, such as sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and wegener's) or certain drugs (e.g. nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, intravenous immunoglobulin, intrathecal agents, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). While some forms of meningitis are mild and resolve spontaneously (e.g. viral meningitis), meningitis is a potentially serious condition owing to the proximity of the inflammation to the brain and spinal cord. The potential for serious neurologic damage or even death necessitates prompt medical attention and evaluation. The common presenting features of meningitis are, fever, neck stiffness and headache. Other symptoms include, photophobia (inability to tolerate bright light), phonophobia (inability to tolerate loud noises), irritability, altered mental status (in small children), and seizure. Physical examination of meningitis may vary in adults and infants. In adults, physical examination findings may include bradycardia, disorientation, papilledema, neck stiffness, positive brudzinski's and kernig's sign. However, petechial rash, bulging fontanelle, neck stiffness, jaundice, and convulsions are physical examination findings in infants. Diagnosis is based on clinical findings and CSF analysis. Treatment options are based on etiology and varies from supportive care and observing the patient (viral meningitis) to antibiotic therapy for bacterial meningitis or chemotherapy and/or irradiation for neoplastic meningitis.[1][2][3][4][5][6][4][7][8]
Bacterial meningitis can be community acquired or health care associated.
A more detailed discussion of the epidemiology of and risk factors for bacterial meningitis is presented elsewhere.
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Meningitis could be classified to two main groups based on etiology:
Infectious meningitis may be classified as the following algorithm based on chronicity of symptoms.
| Infectious Meningitis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Viral | Bacterial | Fungal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acute | Chronic | Recurrent | Acute | Subacute | Chronic | Recurrent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Systemic illnesses, such as malignancies and connective tissue diseases (e.g. sarcoidosis, SLE, and wegener's) may involve meninges in their course and present as chronic meningitis.
Certain drugs may cause meningeal irritation and resemble as meningitis including:
| Diseases | Symptoms | Physical Examination | Past medical history | Diagnostic tests | Other Findings | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headache | ↓LOC | Motor weakness | Abnormal sensory | Motor Deficit | Sensory deficit | Speech difficulty | Gait abnormality | Cranial nerves | CT /MRI | CSF Findings | Gold standard test | |||
| Meningitis | + | - | - | - | - | + | + | - | - | History of fever and malaise | - | ↑ Leukocytes,
↑ Protein ↓ Glucose |
CSF analysis[28] | Fever, neck |
| Encephalitis | + | + | +/- | +/- | - | - | + | +/- | + | History of fever and malaise | + | ↑ Leukocytes, ↓ Glucose | CSF PCR | Fever, seizures, focal neurologic abnormalities |
| Brain tumor[29] | + | - | - | - | + | + | + | - | + | Weight loss, fatigue | + | Cancer cells[30] | MRI | Cachexia, gradual progression of symptoms |
| Hemorrhagic stroke | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | - | Hypertension | + | - | CT scan without contrast[31][32] | Neck stiffness |
| Subdural hemorrhage | + | + | + | + | + | - | - | - | + | Trauma, fall | + | Xanthochromia[33] | CT scan without contrast[31][32] | Confusion, dizziness, nausea, vomiting |
| Neurosyphilis[34][35] | + | - | + | + | + | + | - | + | - | STIs | + | ↑ Leukocytes and protein | CSF VDRL-specifc
CSF FTA-Ab -sensitive[36] |
Blindness, confusion, depression,
Abnormal gait |
| Complex or atypical migraine | + | - | + | + | - | - | + | - | - | Family history of migraine | - | - | Clinical assesment | Presence of aura, nausea, vomiting |
| Hypertensive encephalopathy | + | + | - | - | - | - | + | + | - | Hypertension | + | - | Clinical assesment | Delirium, cortical blindness, cerebral edema, seizure |
| Wernicke’s encephalopathy | - | + | - | - | - | + | + | + | + | History of alcohal abuse | - | - | Clinical assesment and lab findings | Ophthalmoplegia, confusion |
| CNS abscess | + | + | - | - | + | + | + | - | - | History of drug abuse, endocarditis, immunosupression | + | ↑ leukocytes, ↓ glucose and ↑ protien | MRI is more sensitive and specific | High grade fever, fatigue,nausea, vomiting |
| Drug toxicity | - | + | - | + | + | + | - | + | - | - | - | - | Drug screen test | Lithium, Sedatives, phenytoin, carbamazepine |
| Conversion disorder | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | History of emotional stress | - | - | Diagnosis of exclusion | Tremors, blindness, difficulty swallowing | |
| Metabolic disturbances (electrolyte imbalance, hypoglycemia) | - | + | + | + | + | + | - | - | + | - | - | Hypoglycemia, hypo and hypernatremia, hypo and hyperkalemia | Depends on the cause | Confusion, seizure, palpitations, sweating, dizziness, hypoglycemia |
| Multiple sclerosis exacerbation | - | - | + | + | - | + | + | + | + | History of relapses and remissions | + | ↑ CSF IgG levels
(monoclonal bands) |
Clinical assesment and MRI [37] | Blurry vision, urinary incontinence, fatigue |
| Seizure | + | + | - | - | + | + | - | - | + | Previous history of seizures | - | Mass lesion | Clinical assesment and EEG [38] | Confusion, apathy, irritability, |
Diagnosis of meningitis, is based on clinical presentation in combination with CSF analysis. CSF analysis has major role for diagnosis and rule out other possibilities. The following table summarizes the CSF findings in different types of meningitis.[39][40][41][42][3]
| Cerebrospinal fluid level | Normal level | Bacterial meningitis[42] | Viral meningitis (except SARS-CoV-2 meningitis) [42] | SARS-CoV-2 associated meningitis | Fungal meningitis | Tuberculous meningitis[43] | Neoplastic meningitis[39] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cells/ul | < 5 | >300 | 10-1000 | 10-1000 | 10-500 | 50-500 | >4 |
| Cells | Lymphocyte | Leukocyte > Lymphocyte | Lymphocyte > Leukocyte | Lymphocyte > Neutrophil | Lymphocyte > Leukocyte | Lymphocyte > Leukocyte | Lymphocyte > Leukocyte |
| Total protein (mg/dl) | 45-60 | Typically 100-500 | Normal or slightly high | Normal or slightly high | High | Typically 100-200 | >50 |
| Glucose ratio (CSF/plasma)[40] | > 0.5 | < 0.3 | > 0.6 | > 0.6 | <0.3 | < 0.5 | <0.5 |
| Lactate (mmols/l)[41] | < 2.1 | > 2.1 | < 2.1 | NA | >3.2 | > 2.1 | >2.1 |
| Others | Intra-cranial pressure (ICP) = 6-12 (cm H2O) | CSF gram stain, CSF culture, CSF bacterial antigen | PCR of HSV-DNA, VZV | RT-PCR for detection of viral RNA i n CSF ( not approved by FDA) | CSF gram stain, CSF india ink | PCR of TB-DNA | CSF tumour markers such as alpha fetoprotein, CEA |
| Predisposing factor | Common bacterial pathogen | Antimicrobial therapy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Listeriamonocytogenes, Klebsiellaspecie | Ampicillin plus cefotaxime or ampicillin plus anaminoglycoside |
| 1–23 months | Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis,S. agalactiae, Haemophilus influenzae, E. coli | Ampicillin plus cefotaxime or ampicillin plus anaminoglycoside |
| 2–50 years,150 years | N . meningitidis, S. pneumoniae,S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, L. monocytogenes,aerobic gram-negative bacill | Vancomycin plus a third-generation cephalosporin,Vancomycin plus ampicillin plus a third-generationcephalosporina, |
| Head traumaBasilar skull fracture | S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae,group Ab-hemolyticstreptococci | Vancomycin plus a third-generation cephalospori |
| Penetrating trauma | Staphylococcus aureus,coagulase-negative staphylo-cocci (especiallyStaphylococcus epidermidis),aer-obic gram-negative bacilli (includingPseudomonasaeruginosa) | Vancomycin plus cefepime, vancomycin plus ceftazi-dime, or vancomycin plus meropenem |
| Postneurosurgery | Aerobic gram-negative bacilli (includingP. aeruginosa),S . aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (es-peciallyS. epidermidis) | ancomycin plus cefepime, vancomycin plus ceftazi-dime, or vancomycin plus meropenem |
| CSF shunt | Coagulase-negative staphylococci (especiallyS. epi-dermidis), S. aureus,aerobic gram-negative bacilli(includingP. aeruginosa), Propionibacterium acnes | ancomycin plus cefepime, vancomycin plus ceftazi-dime, or vancomycin plus meropenem |
| Microorganism | Recommended therapy | Alternative therapies | Duration oftherapy, days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streptococcus pneumoniae | Vancomycin plus a third-generationcephalosporina, | Meropenem , fluoroquinolonec | 7 |
| Neisseria meningitidis | Third-generation cephalospori | Penicillin G, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, fluoro-quinolone, aztreonam | 7 |
| Listeria monocytogenes | Ampicillindor penicillin G | Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, meropenem | 10-14 |
| Streptococcus agalactiae | Ampicillindor penicillin G | Third-generation cephalosporin | 14-21 |
| Haemophilus influenzae | Third-generation cephalospori | Chloramphenicol, cefepime , meropenem ,fluoroquinolon | 21 |
| Escherichia coli | Third-generation cephalospori | Cefepime, meropenem, aztreonam, fluoroquino-lone, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | >21 |
| Targeted group by age and/or risk factor | Primary dose(s) | Booster dose(s) |
|---|---|---|
| For ages 11 through 18 years | Give one dose of Menactra or Menveo, preferably at age 11 or 12 years.
Discuss serogroup B meningococcus vaccination (Trumenba or Bexsero)*, which may be administered to adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years of age; the preferred age for vaccination is 16 through 18 years of age (perhaps at the time of Menactra or Menveo booster). |
If primary dose was given at age ≤12 years, give Menactra or Menveo booster at age 16 years. If primary dose was given at age 13 to 15 years, give Menactra or Menveo booster at age 16 to 18 years |
| For individuals ages 19 through 21 years who are first year college students living in residence halls | If not yet received a dose of vaccine, give one dose of Menactra or Menveo.
Discuss serogroup B meningococcus vaccination (Trumenba or Bexsero)*, which may be administered to adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years of age; the preferred age for vaccination is 16 through 18 years of age. |
Give Menactra or Menveo booster if previous dose given at age younger than 16 years. |
| |Patients with HIV infection | ||
| For age <2 years | Give four doses of Menveo (at ages 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months) or give two doses of MenactraΔ (at age 9 to 23 months, 12 weeks apart). | Give additional dose of Menveo or Menactra three years after primary series. Booster doses should be repeated every five years thereafter. |
| For age ≥2 years | Give two doses of Menveo or Menactra 8 to 12 weeks apart. | For individuals age <7 years at previous dose, give additional dose of Menveo or Menactra three years after primary series. If the most recent dose was received before age 7 years, a booster dose should be readministered three years later. Booster doses should be repeated every five years thereafter.
For individuals age ≥7 years at previous dose, give additional dose of Menveo or Menactra five years after primary series; booster doses should be repeated every five years thereafter |
| Travelers to or residents of countries where meningococcal disease is hyperendemic or epidemic | ||
| For age 2 months through 18 months | Give Menveo at ages 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months | If risk continues, give initial booster after three years followed by boosters every five years. |
| For children age 7 months through 23 months who have not initiated a series of Menveo | Give Menveo (if age 7 to 23 months)§ or Menactra (if age 9 to 23 months); administer two doses separated by three months | If risk continues, give initial booster after three years followed by boosters every five years. |
| For age 2 years through 55 years | Give one dose of Menactra or Menveo. | Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo |
| For age 56 years and older | Give one dose of Menactra or Menveo | Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo |
| People with prolonged increased risk for exposure (eg, military recruits, microbiologists routinely working with Neisseria meningitidis) | ||
| For age 10 years and older | Give one dose of Menactra or Menveo.
Give either Trumenba (three doses administered at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months) or Bexsero (two doses administered at least one month apart) |
Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo.
Boost with one dose MenB (Trumenba or Bexsero) one year after primary series; revaccinate every 2 to 3 years if risk remains. |
| People present during outbreaks caused by a meningococcal vaccine serogroup | ||
| For age 2 months through 18 months | Give Menveo at ages 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months. | ' |
| For children age 7 months through 23 months who have not initiated a series of Menveo | Give Menveo (if age 7 to 23 months)§ or Menactra (if age 9 to 23 months); administer two doses separated by 3 months | ' |
| For age 2 years through 9 years | Give one dose of Menactra or Menveo | ' |
| For age 10 years through 55 years | Give one dose of Menactra or Menveo.
Give either Trumenba (three doses administered at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months) or Bexsero (two doses administered at least one month apart) |
' |
| For age 56 years and older | Give one dose of Menactra or Menveo.
Give either Trumenba (three doses administered at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months) or Bexsero (two doses administered at least one month apart) |
' |
| People with persistent complement component deficiencies | ||
| For age 2 months through 18 months | Give Menveo at ages 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months. | Give Menactra or Menveo booster after three years followed by boosters every five years thereafter. |
| For children age 7 months through 23 months who have not initiated a series of Menveo | Give Menveo (if age 7 to 23 months)§ or Menactra (if age 9 to 23 months); administer two doses separated by three months. | ' |
| For age 2 years through 9 years | Give two doses of Menactra or Menveo two months apart. | Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo |
| For age 10 years through 55 years | ive two doses of Menactra or Menveo two months apart and either Trumenba (three doses administered at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months) or Bexsero (two doses administered at least one month apart) | Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo.
Boost with one dose MenB (Trumenba or Bexsero) one year after primary series; revaccinate every 2 to 3 years if risk remains. |
| For age 56 years and older | Give two doses of Menactra or Menveo two months apart and either Trumenba (three doses administered at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months) or Bexsero (two doses administered at least one month apart) | Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo.
Boost with one dose MenB (Trumenba or Bexsero) one year after primary series; revaccinate every 2 to 3 years if risk remains. |
| People with functional or anatomic asplenia, including sickle cell disease | ||
| For age 2 months through 18 months | Give Menveo at ages 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. | Give Menactra or Menveo booster after three years followed by boosters every five years thereafter. |
| For children age 19 months through 23 months who have not initiated a series of Menveo | Give two doses of Menveo three months apart. | Give Menactra or Menveo booster after three years followed by boosters every five years thereafter. |
| For age 2 years through 9 years | Give two doses of Menactra or Menveo two months apart | Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo |
| For age 10 years through 55 years | Give two doses of Menactra or Menveo two months apart and either Trumenba (three doses administered at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months) or Bexsero (two doses administered at least one month apart) | Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo.
Boost with one dose MenB (Trumenba or Bexsero) one year after primary series; revaccinate every 2 to 3 years if risk remains |
| For age 56 years and older | Give two doses of Menactra or Menveo two months apart and either Trumenba (three doses administered at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months) or Bexsero (two doses administered at least one month apart). | Boost every five years with Menactra or Menveo.
Boost with one dose MenB (Trumenba or Bexsero) one year after primary series; revaccinate every 2 to 3 years if risk remains. |
The quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MenACWY) are Menactra (MenACWY-DT) and Menveo (MenACWY-CRM); these have replaced the quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine Menomune (MPSV4). MenHibrix (HibMenCY), a combination conjugate vaccine against meningococcus serogroups C and Y and Haemophilus influenzae type b, was discontinued in 2017. Trumenba (MenB-FHbp) and Bexsero (MenB-4C) are meningococcus serogroup B vaccines.
| Drug | Age group | Dosage | Duration and route of administration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rifampin | Children aged <1 mo | 5 mg/kg every 12 hrs | 2 days |
| Rifampin | Children aged ≥1 mo | 10 mg/kg every 12 hrs | 2 days |
| Rifampin | Adults | 600 mg every 12 hrs | 2 days |
| Ciprofloxacin | Adults | 500 mg | Single dose |
| Ceftriaxone | Children age <15 yrs | 125 mg | Single IM dose |
| Ceftriaxone | Adults | 250 mg | Single IM dose |