One of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis is Neisseria meningitidis, which can be acquired globally. N. meningitidis is normal flora in the human nasopharynx, but if an individual becomes susceptible, it can lead to bacterial meningitis. Incidence of N. meningitidis is strongly influenced by age. Infants have the highest risk for meningococcal disease. Low serum bactericidal antibody levels play a large role in those that are at risk for infection. Those with compromised immune systems are also at an increased risk of meningococcal disease, especially those with HIV, anatomic asplenia and deficiencies in the innate immune system (Harrison 2011).
N. meningitidis has been found in the United States, Europe, Africa, Latin America and …show more content…
Most of the countries that were encouraged to implement immunization programs for their children have not done so. Only 26 out of 193 World Health Organization members have organized the vaccination of children (Brouwer et al 2010). Specifically, in African countries where there is a high incidence of HIV, most of the cases of bacterial meningitis are caused by S. pneumoniae, causing high mortality rates.
Haemophaelus influenzae is another leading cause of bacterial meningitis. While bacterial meningitis caused by H. influenzae used to account for 45 to 48% of all cases in the US, it now only accounts for 7% (Brouwer et al 2010). This is due to effective conjugated vaccines that have reduced the risk of bacterial meningitis due to H. influenzae. H. influenzae is commensal flora in humans and it colonizes in healthy children and adults. Transmission is through direct contact and secretions such as saliva and …show more content…
meningitidis, we can see the clinical features of infection. In this case, a 10-day-old baby with normal delivery and natal history was brought to the hospital due to fever and difficulty breathing. The patient had cutis marmorata, was hypotonic and showed poor sucking. Cardiovascular and respiratory examinations were normal and the complete blood count and serum biochemical analysis were normal. Analysis of arterial blood gases showed respiratory and metabolic acidosis (Bas et al 2014). After blood and urine culture samples were collected, the patient was diagnosed with sepsis and respiratory insufficiency. There was no sign of meningitis when a test was run on the neonates CSF. During the second hour of hospitalization, the patient had an increased capillary refill time of 5 seconds and hypotension and bradycardia developed. Dopamine and dobutamine were given to the patient due to hypotension and administered levels were increased with increased persistence of hypotension. There was also leucopenia in the patient and prolonged coagulation, thrombocytopenia and a rise in the C reactive protein level (C reactive protein level rises rapidly within the first 24-48 hours after infection of bacterial meningitis). The patient went into cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated. After an autopsy was performed, N. meningitidis was isolated from blood and tissue cultures (the CSF was sterile) (Bas et al
N. meningitidis has been found in the United States, Europe, Africa, Latin America and …show more content…
Most of the countries that were encouraged to implement immunization programs for their children have not done so. Only 26 out of 193 World Health Organization members have organized the vaccination of children (Brouwer et al 2010). Specifically, in African countries where there is a high incidence of HIV, most of the cases of bacterial meningitis are caused by S. pneumoniae, causing high mortality rates.
Haemophaelus influenzae is another leading cause of bacterial meningitis. While bacterial meningitis caused by H. influenzae used to account for 45 to 48% of all cases in the US, it now only accounts for 7% (Brouwer et al 2010). This is due to effective conjugated vaccines that have reduced the risk of bacterial meningitis due to H. influenzae. H. influenzae is commensal flora in humans and it colonizes in healthy children and adults. Transmission is through direct contact and secretions such as saliva and …show more content…
meningitidis, we can see the clinical features of infection. In this case, a 10-day-old baby with normal delivery and natal history was brought to the hospital due to fever and difficulty breathing. The patient had cutis marmorata, was hypotonic and showed poor sucking. Cardiovascular and respiratory examinations were normal and the complete blood count and serum biochemical analysis were normal. Analysis of arterial blood gases showed respiratory and metabolic acidosis (Bas et al 2014). After blood and urine culture samples were collected, the patient was diagnosed with sepsis and respiratory insufficiency. There was no sign of meningitis when a test was run on the neonates CSF. During the second hour of hospitalization, the patient had an increased capillary refill time of 5 seconds and hypotension and bradycardia developed. Dopamine and dobutamine were given to the patient due to hypotension and administered levels were increased with increased persistence of hypotension. There was also leucopenia in the patient and prolonged coagulation, thrombocytopenia and a rise in the C reactive protein level (C reactive protein level rises rapidly within the first 24-48 hours after infection of bacterial meningitis). The patient went into cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated. After an autopsy was performed, N. meningitidis was isolated from blood and tissue cultures (the CSF was sterile) (Bas et al