Bacterial Meningitis Quiz

Inflammation of the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) caused by bacteria.

The process of how bacteria cause meningitis, often through bloodstream spread from a primary infection site.

Symptoms of meningitis, often including fever, headache, stiff neck, and (sometimes) a rash.

Determining if meningitis is present through medical history, physical examination, and laboratory testing like cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis.

Treating meningitis involves prompt administration of antibiotics.

Strategies to mitigate the risk of bacterial meningitis, possibly including vaccinations and good hygiene.

Collection of pus in the brain tissue.

Spread of infection through the bloodstream.

Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis can be caused by bacteria (severe), viruses (common, milder), fungi (uncommon in immunocompromised), or amoebae (very uncommon).

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) are common bacterial causes of meningitis in all age groups.

Group B streptococcus (GBS), E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes are common bacterial causes of meningitis in newborns.

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes are common bacterial causes of meningitis in the elderly.

Meningitis can spread from the nasopharynx through a bony defect or trauma (head injury). Occasionally, entry may occur through the cribriform plate.

Certain host factors increase susceptibility to meningitis, including asplenia, diabetes, altered immunity, skull fractures, and inherited complement deficiencies.

Individuals with asplenia (missing or non-functioning spleen) have a higher chance of severe infections from encapsulated bacteria like Hib, S. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis.

Post-traumatic meningitis is rare after head injury and typically associated with a fracture and persistent CSF leak.

Streptococci, Staphylococci, Anaerobes, and Aerobic Gram-negative bacteria (like E. coli) are common causes of infections in the ears, sinuses, and mastoids.

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant pathogen following trauma or neurosurgery.

Conditions like neutropenia and immunosuppression can lead to infections by fungi (like Aspergillus), yeasts (like Candida), and even tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), beyond typical bacteria.

HIV patients may get infections from Toxoplasma gondii and tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis).

Bacterial infections of the heart lining (endocarditis) often involve Streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus.

Brain abscesses show signs of increased pressure (headache, seizures, and nausea/vomiting) and infection (fever), along with potential signs of the underlying condition.

Diagnosing a brain abscess requires a careful analysis of patient symptoms and appropriate specimen collection and microbiological tests.

Pregnancy increases the risk of Listeria monocytogenes infection, potentially leading to meningitis, if exposure occurs through food.

Factors increasing risk of bacterial meningitis include age, living in communal settings, compromised immune systems, recent infections, head injuries, CSF leaks, and travel to areas with high incidence.

Risk of bacterial meningitis varies with age. Certain common causes differ across age groups.

Individuals who haven't received vaccinations against bacterial meningitis like Hib, MenC, MenB, MenACWY, PCV13, and PPV23 face increased risk.

Conditions like HIV, alcohol abuse, diabetes, and immunosuppressant drug use weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of bacterial meningitis.

Individuals without a spleen (congenital, surgical, or functional asplenia) are at higher risk of contracting bacterial meningitis.

Neisseria meningitidis is a common cause of bacterial meningitis, often carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx, especially common in 15-20 years and older adults.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common upper respiratory tract bacteria, is a major cause of meningitis, especially in individuals with asplenia or immunosuppression or chronic renal failure.

Collection of pus within the brain tissue

Avoid lumbar puncture (LP) due to risk of high intracranial pressure and 'coning'

Diagnosed via imaging (contrast CT/MRI) and intra-operative specimens (e.g., burr hole aspiration)

Samples sent to microbiology & histology (Gram stain, culture & susceptibility, 16S PCR if needed)

Often related to haematogenous spread or infection from nearby structures (e.g., sinusitis, poor dentition)

Empiric antibiotics (e.g., Ceftriaxone + Flucloxacillin + Metronidazole) followed by targeted treatment based on culture results; surgical drainage/aspiration is crucial

Bacterial infection in the bloodstream, potentially causing septicaemia & meningitis

Diagnosed by blood cultures and sometimes CSF analysis

IV Ceftriaxone/cefotaxime, vancomycin, and potentially steroids

Public health measures (contact tracing & prophylaxis)

Identifying potential disease through consideration of different possibilities (brain abscess, encephalitis, tumour, etc.)

Lengthy treatment course (potentially up to 6 weeks) of antibiotics determined by clinical response and imaging

A leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a damaged area in the brain or skull.

A tube placed in the brain to drain excess fluid or redirect fluid flow.

A device that helps people with hearing loss hear sounds.

Vaccine preventing pneumococcal disease (infection).

Infection spreading into the body tissues.

Preventive treatment to reduce the risk of an infection.

Absence of a spleen (an organ removing damaged blood cells).

Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (caused by meningococcal bacteria).

Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord caused by Hib bacteria.

Localized collection of pus caused by infection.

Possible diagnoses that need to be considered in a particular case.

Localized collection of pus in the brain.

The study of causes of disease by microorganisms.

Spread of infection from one area to an adjacent one.

Spread of infection through the bloodstream to distant areas.

Prevent spread of infectious diseases through droplets released from patient.

Pregnancy increases risk of Listeria monocytogenes infection, potentially causing meningitis if foodborne.

Factors like age, communal living, weakened immune systems, recent infections, head injuries, CSF leaks, and travel

People without meningitis vaccines (Hib, Men, PCV, PPV) face higher risk

Conditions like HIV, alcohol abuse, diabetes, or immunosuppressants weaken immunity, raising risk.

People without a spleen (surgical, congenital or functional) have higher chance of bacterial infections, including meningitis.

Common cause of bacterial meningitis, often carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx, especially common in 15-20 years of age and older adults.

Major cause of meningitis, especially in individuals with asplenia or immunosuppression or chronic renal failure. An upper respiratory tract bacteria.

Inflammation of the meninges (membranes around the brain and spinal cord) caused by bacteria.

How bacteria cause meningitis, often through the bloodstream from another infection.

Symptoms of meningitis, such as fever, headache, stiff neck, and sometimes rash.

Determining meningitis using medical history, physical exam, and CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) analysis.

Prompt antibiotic treatment is crucial for bacterial meningitis.

Strategies to lower meningitis risk, possibly including vaccines and good hygiene.

Pus collection in brain tissue.

Infection spreading through the bloodstream.

Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

A student, unconscious with a rash, potentially having meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis, given student's symptoms and living situation.

Meningitis can spread from the nasopharynx through a bony defect or trauma (head injury). Occasionally, entry occurs through the cribriform plate.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) are common bacterial causes of meningitis in all age groups.

Certain host factors increase susceptibility to meningitis, including asplenia, diabetes, altered immunity, skull fractures, and inherited complement deficiencies.

Group B streptococcus (GBS), E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes are common bacterial causes of meningitis in newborns.

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes are common bacterial causes of meningitis in the elderly.

Individuals with asplenia (missing or non-functioning spleen) have a higher chance of severe infections from encapsulated bacteria like Hib, S. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis.

Post-traumatic meningitis is rare after head injury and typically associated with a fracture and persistent CSF leak.

Meningitis can be caused by bacteria (severe), viruses (common, milder), fungi (uncommon in immunocompromised), or amoebae (very uncommon).

Inflammation of the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord), often caused by infection.

Streptococci, Staphylococci, anaerobic bacteria, and aerobic Gram-negative bacteria (like E. coli) commonly cause ear, sinus, and mastoid infections.

Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent pathogen after head trauma or neurosurgery.

Neutropenia and immunosuppression can cause infections from fungi (Aspergillus), yeasts (Candida), and TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis).

HIV patients are vulnerable to Toxoplasma gondii and M. tuberculosis infections.

Streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus commonly cause bacterial infections of the heart lining (endocarditis).

Increased intracranial pressure (headache, seizures, nausea/vomiting), infection (fever), and underlying condition signs define brain abscesses.

Brain abscess diagnoses involve imaging (contrast CT/MRI) and intra-operative specimens (e.g., burr hole aspiration).

Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen after neurosurgery.

Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a damaged area in the brain or skull.

Tube placed in the brain to drain excess fluid or redirect fluid flow.

Device that helps people with hearing loss hear sounds.

Vaccine preventing pneumococcal disease (infection).

Infection spreading into the body tissues.

Preventive treatment to reduce the risk of an infection.

Absence of a spleen (an organ removing damaged blood cells).

Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (caused by meningococcal bacteria).

Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord caused by Hib bacteria.

Localized collection of pus in the brain.

Identifying potential diseases through consideration of various possibilities.

Study of causes of disease by microorganisms.

Spread of infection from one area to an adjacent one.

Spread of infection through the bloodstream to distant areas.

Prevent spread of infectious diseases through droplets released from patients.

A collection of pus within the brain tissue.

Avoid lumbar puncture (LP) because of the high risk of increased intracranial pressure leading to "coning".

Diagnosed via imaging (contrast CT/MRI) and intra-operative specimens (burr hole aspiration).

Samples are sent to microbiology and histology for Gram stain, culture & susceptibility, and 16S PCR (if needed).

Often related to haematogenous spread from distant or nearby infections like sinusitis, dental problems.

Empiric antibiotics (e.g., Ceftriaxone + Flucloxacillin + Metronidazole) followed by targeted treatment based on tests; surgical drainage/aspiration is important.

Bacterial infection in the bloodstream, with possible meningitis.

Diagnosed by blood cultures and (sometimes) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests.

IV Ceftriaxone/cefotaxime, vancomycin, and potentially corticosteroids.

Public health measures (like contact tracing & prophylaxis).

Identifying potential diseases through consideration of different possibilities; e.g., brain abscess, encephalitis, tumor, stroke.

Lengthy treatment (potentially up to 6 weeks) guided by symptoms improvement and follow-up imaging.

An 18-year-old male student, unconscious and with a rash, possibly suffering from meningococcal sepsis.