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Query: UMLS:C0085437 (bacterial meningitis)
 4,038 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Meningococcal meningitis remains a life-threatening disease. Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of meningitis and septicemia in young adults and is a major cause of endemic bacterial meningitis worldwide. The Meningitis Cohort Study was a Dutch nationwide prospective observational cohort study of adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis, confirmed by culture of cerebrospinal fluid, from October 1998 to April 2002. Patients underwent a neurologic examination at discharge, and outcome was graded with the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Serogrouping, multi-locus sequence typing, and susceptibility testing of meningococcal isolates were performed. The study identified 258 episodes of meningococcal meningitis in 258 patients. The prevalence of the classical triad of fever, neck stiffness, and change in mental status was low (70/258, 27%). When rash was added to the classical triad, 229 of 258 (89%) patients had at least 2 of 4 signs. Systolic hypotension was associated with rash (22/23 vs. 137/222, p = 0.002) and absence of neck stiffness (6/23 vs. 21/220, p = 0.05). Neuroimaging before lumbar puncture was an important cause of delay of therapy: antibiotics were not initiated before computed tomography (CT) scan in 85% of patients who underwent CT scan before lumbar puncture. Unfavorable outcome occurred in 30 of 258 (12%) patients, including a mortality rate of 7%. Neurologic sequelae occurred in 28 of 238 (12%) patients, particularly hearing loss (8%). Factors associated with sepsis and infection with meningococci of clonal complex 11 (cc11) are related with unfavorable outcome.
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PMID:Clinical features, outcome, and meningococcal genotype in 258 adults with meningococcal meningitis: a prospective cohort study. 1862 1

Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis worldwide. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane, is sensed by mammalian cells through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), resulting in activation of proinflammatory cytokine pathways. TLR4 recognizes the lipid A moiety of the LPS molecule, and the chemical composition of the lipid A determines how well it is recognized by TLR4. N. meningitidis has been reported to produce lipid A with six acyl chains, the optimal number for TLR4 recognition. Indeed, meningococcal sepsis is generally seen as the prototypical endotoxin-mediated disease. In the present study, we screened meningococcal disease isolates from 464 patients for their ability to induce cytokine production in vitro. We found that around 9% of them were dramatically less potent than wild-type strains. Analysis of the lipid A of several of the low-activity strains by mass spectrometry revealed they were penta-acylated, suggesting a mutation in the lpxL1 or lpxL2 genes required for addition of secondary acyl chains. Sequencing of these genes showed that all the low activity strains had mutations that inactivated the lpxL1 gene. In order to see whether lpxL1 mutants might give a different clinical picture, we investigated the clinical correlate of these mutations in a prospective nationwide observational cohort study of adults with meningococcal meningitis. Patients infected with an lpxL1 mutant presented significantly less frequently with rash and had higher thrombocyte counts, consistent with reduced cytokine induction and less activation of tissue-factor mediated coagulopathy. In conclusion, here we report for the first time that a surprisingly large fraction of meningococcal clinical isolates have LPS with underacylated lipid A due to mutations in the lpxL1 gene. The resulting low-activity LPS may have an important role in virulence by aiding the bacteria to evade the innate immune system. Our results provide the first example of a specific mutation in N. meningitidis that can be correlated with the clinical course of meningococcal disease.
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PMID:Naturally occurring lipid A mutants in neisseria meningitidis from patients with invasive meningococcal disease are associated with reduced coagulopathy. 1939 Jun 12

The most frequent bacteria responsible for acute bacterial meningitis, after the neonatal period, are meningoccoci and pneumococci, very rarely Haemophilus influenzae and Listeria monocytogenes. The microbiological diagnosis is based on cell count, Gram stain, and culture of cerebrospinal fluid. Antigen detection and DNA detection are useful to identify the bacteria in cases of negative cultures, because of the fragility of some bacterial species (meningococci), or a prior antibiotic administration, before a lumbar puncture. Some tests for screening antimicrobial resistances are needed, such as those for detection of resistance to betalactam agents in pneumococcal isolates. Blood cultures, serum samples, skin rash biopsies also contribute to the diagnosis.
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PMID:[Contribution of microbiological methods to the diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis]. 1939 76

Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency requiring prompt recognition and evaluation and urgent initiation of appropriate antibacterial therapy. However, early recognition of severe bacterial infection including bacterial meningitis is a challenge in infants. Two clinical forms are basically observed in infants and young children: firstly, clinical meningitis which is characterized by fever, usually greater than 39 degrees C, and poorly specific gastrointestinal signs such as refusal of feeding and/or vomiting; irritability, abnormal crying, bulging fontanel, unusual generalized seizures occurring before six months of age and lasting more than 10 min should draw the clinician's attention and lead him/her to perform a lumbar puncture and initiate antibiotics; secondly, severe sepsis which is characterized by tachycardia, cold and/or mottled limbs and sometimes leg pain which should suggest a meningococcal disease; it is quite urgent to administer rapid fluid loading and antibiotic treatment while postponing lumbar puncture before the septic cascade evolves towards septic shock, extensive hemorrhagic rash, and ischemic limbs. Given the relative frequency of viral self-limiting diseases and rarity of serious bacterial infections, guidelines were published to guide the clinician's decision when dealing with a febrile infant. However, an alternative to these guidelines was recently suggested with a more clinically oriented decision-making attitude appearing as efficient while limiting hospitalizations.
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PMID:[Clinical signs suggestive of bacterial meningitis in infants]. 1940 42

Early clinical data must lead to suspect bacterial meningitis if fever, the most frequent sign, is present and if it is associated with more or less constant neurological and meningeal signs (consciousness impairment, headache, neck stiffness, focal neurological deficit, seizure, etc.). A skin rash is frequent in case of meningococcal meningitis whereas cranial nerve palsy is more in favor of tuberculous or Listeria meningitis. Presence of otitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, or a recent head trauma strongly suggests a pneumococcal involvement. Tuberculous meningitis is generally characterized by a slow evolution of meningeal signs together with aspecific signs. The main prognostic factors are consciousness impairment, circulatory instability, focal neurological signs, and advanced age. Morbidity and mortality are increased in case of pneumococcal compared to meningococcal meningitis. Cranial tomodensitometry gives further information about intracranial complications of meningitis. In some cases, particularly if focal neurological or intracranial hypertension signs are present, it must be performed before a lumbar puncture. The risk factors of meningitis must be investigated and treated if possible according to the bacterium. The management of patient after hospital discharge depends on evolution after treatment. The presence of neurological sequels imposes a specialized ambulatory follow-up. Neuropsychological sequels (cognitive dysfunction, memory impairment) can also persist for years even in absence of other neurological disorders.
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PMID:[Managing adult patients with acute community-acquired meningitis presumed of bacterial origin]. 1947 96

To report a case of bilateral endophthalmitis as the initial presentation of bacterial meningitis in a young, immunocompetent Korean patient. A 35-year-old female with a one day history of bilateral swollen eyes, visual disturbance, headache, petechial skin rash, and nausea visited our clinic. She was diagnosed as having endogenous endophthalmitis associated with bacterial meningitis. Intravenous broad spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated with cefotaxime 3 g and ubacillin 3 g, four times daily. Intravitreal antibiotic (vancomycin 1 mg/0.1 mL and ceftazidime 2 mg/0.1 mL) injections were performed in both eyes. Two weeks post presentation, the best corrected visual acuity in both eyes improved to 0.7, and inflammation of the anterior chamber and vitreous cavity was decreased. We recommend that when endogenous endophthalmitis is suspected along with meningitis, or if it is known to be present, intravitreal and intravenous antibiotics should be promptly administered to preserve vision.
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PMID:Bilateral endophthalmitis as the initial presentation of bacterial meningitis. 2004 99

Purpura fulminans (PF) is a rare skin disorder with extensive areas of blueblack hemorrhagic necrosis. Patients manifest typical laboratory signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Our case describes a 37-year-old previously healthy man who presented with 3 days of generalized malaise, headache, vomiting, photophobia, and an ecchymotic skin rash. Initial laboratory workup revealed DIC without obvious infectious trigger including unremarkable cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biochemical analysis. There was further progression of the skin ecchymosis and multiorgan damage consistent with PF. Final CSF cultures revealed Streptococcus pneumoniae. Despite normal initial CSF biochemical analysis, bacterial meningitis should always be considered in patients with otherwise unexplained DIC as this may be an early manifestation of infection. PF is a clinical diagnosis that requires early recognition and prompt empirical treatment, especially, in patients with progressive altered mental status, ecchymotic skin rash, and DIC.
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PMID:Purpura Fulminans Secondary to Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis. 2256 89

Quality surveillance is critical to the control and elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). A key strategy for enhancing VPD surveillance, outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Framework for Immunization Monitoring and Surveillance (GFIMS), is to expand and link existing VPD surveillance systems (particularly those developed for polio eradication and measles elimination) to include other priority VPDs. Since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, the incidence of polio has decrease by 99% worldwide. A cornerstone of this success is a sensitive surveillance system based on the rapid and timely reporting of all acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in children aged <15 years, with confirmatory diagnostic testing performed by laboratories that are part of a global network. As countries achieve polio-free status, many have expanded syndromic surveillance to include persons with rash and fever, and have built measles diagnostic capacity in existing polio reference laboratories. Acute meningitis/encephalitis syndrome (AMES) and acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) are candidates for expanded surveillance because they are most often caused by VPDs of public health importance for which confirmatory laboratory tests exist. Vaccine-preventable cases of encephalitis include approximately 68,000 Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases, resulting in 13,000-20,000 deaths each year in Asia. Moreover, although bacterial meningitis incidence in Asia is not as well-documented, pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis outbreaks have been reported in Bangladesh and China, and the incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis in children aged <5 years in India has been estimated to be 7.1 per 100,000 population, similar to that in European countries before the introduction of vaccine. This report describes a prototype for expanding existing polio and measles surveillance networks in Bangladesh, China, and India to include surveillance for viral and bacterial vaccine-preventable causes of AMES and AES and presents data from 2006-2008.
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PMID:Expanding poliomyelitis and measles surveillance networks to establish surveillance for acute meningitis and encephalitis syndromes--Bangladesh, China, and India, 2006-2008. 2323 98

Background. Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires urgent diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is infrequently missed if the patient presents with the classic symptoms of fever, headache, rash, nuchal rigidity, or Kernig or Brudzinski sign. However, it may be less obvious in neonates, elderly, or immunocompromised patients. Meningitis which presents as isolated torticollis, without any other signs or symptoms, is exceedingly rare. Objective. To identify an abnormal presentation of meningitis in an adult immunocompromised patient. Case Report. We present a case of an adult diabetic male who presented multiple times to the ED with complaint of isolated torticollis, who ultimately was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Conclusion. We propose that in the absence of sufficient explanation for acute painful torticollis in an immunocompromised adult patient, further evaluation, possibly including a lumbar puncture may be warranted.
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PMID:Isolated torticollis may present as an atypical presentation of meningitis. 2332 4

Bacterial complications, particularly skin superinfections, are common during chickenpox. However, reports of acute bacterial meningitis associated with chickenpox are unusual and amount to only a very few observations. For the most part, they are caused by Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pyogenes. We report an infrequent occurrence of pneumococcal meningitis 2 days after the onset of a chickenpox rash in a 7-year-old previously healthy boy. Based on data from the literature, we attempt to understand the possible mechanisms resulting in bacterial complications, particularly meningitis, during chickenpox and to determine the means to prevent it.
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PMID:Chickenpox complicated by pneumococcal meningitis: a rare coinfection. 2528 51


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