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Common Bacterial
Pneumococcal Meningitis
Pneumococcal meningitis is an infection caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, which causes an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Click here to download the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine sheet. Click here to download the pneumococcal polysacharride vaccine sheet.Neonates
General:
Neonates and infants are at a greater risk of pneumococcal meningitis than any other age group due to deficiencies in their hummoral and cellular immunity and phagomatic function. Their inefficient complement pathway compromises their immune system. Prior to the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevnar, there were over 700 cases of meningitis, 13,000 blood infections, and 5 million ear infections annually.
Pneumococcus lives in the back of the nose and throat and can attacks the human body for unknown reasons. It usually progresses into pneumococcal meningitis during an ear infection or pneumonia. People with weaker immune systems are at a greater risk of contracting bacterial meningitis.
Over 20% of those who contract pneumococcal meningitis die and 50% experience long term health complications such as deafness, paralysis, mental retardation, or limb loss. Septicemia or sepsis, which begins as the patikia rash, is a systemic response to an infection which causes limb loss, organ failure, and death in severe cases. Sepsis is a common side effect of bacterial meningitis that increases the fatality rate to 15%.
Prevention:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevnar, for all infants less than 24 months old. Prevnar should be administered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, followed by a booster dose at 12-15 months.
Unvaccinated children between ages 7 and 11 months old should receive 3 doses of Prevnar 2 months apart, ages 12-23 should receive 2 doses 2 months apart, and children older than 24 months should receive 1 dose.
Prevnar protects against the 7 out of 80 most common strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae that are in neonates and infants. Those 7 are accountable for 86% of if invasive pneumococcal infections.
Symptoms:
- Irritability
- Nausea/vomiting
- Feeding poorly
Common symptoms such as fevers, headaches, and stiff necks can be tough to detect or might not even occur in neonates and infants. MFA urges anyone with these symptoms to seek medical attention immediately!
Diagnosis:
All types of meningitis are diagnosed by growing bacteria from a sample of the infected person's spinal fluid, which is collected by performing a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Results show whether or not the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) has increased white blood cells, lowered glucose or increased protein and is often stained if positive. The proper bacterial identification is important for selection of the correct antibodies.
Treatment:
Pneumococcal meningitis is treated with intravenous antibiotics such as ceftriaxone or penicillin and oral antibiotics such as ciproflaxin or rifampin, until the infection's resistance to the drugs contradicts treatment. Steroid medications are used to prevent hearing loss.
Source(s):
www.cdc.gov/nip
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
Infants/children
General:
Neonates and infants are at a greater risk of pneumococcal meningitis than any other age group due to deficiencies in their hummoral and cellular immunity and phagomatic function. Their inefficient complement pathway compromises their immune system. Prior to the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevnar, there were over 700 cases of meningitis, 13,000 blood infections, and 5 million ear infections annually.
Pneumococcus lives in the back of the nose and throat and can attacks the human body for unkown reasons. It usually progresses into pneumococcal meningitis during an ear infection or pneumonia. People with weaker immune systems are at a greater risk of contracting bacterial meningitis.
Over 20% of those who contract pneumococcal meningitis die and 50% experience long term health complications such as deafness, paralysis, mental retardation, or limb loss. Septicemia or sepsis, which begins as the patikia rash, is a systemic response to an infection which causes limb loss, organ failure, and death in severe cases. Sepsis is a common side effect of bacterial meningitis that increases the fatality rate to 15%.
Prevention:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevnar, for all infants less than 24 months old. Prevnar should be administered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, followed by a booster dose at 12-15 months.
Unvaccinated children between ages 7 and 11 months old should receive 3 doses of Prevnar 2 months apart, ages 12-23 should receive 2 doses 2 months apart, and children older than 24 months should receive 1 dose.
Prevnar protects against the 7 out of 80 most common strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae that are in neonates and infants. Those 7 are accountable for 86% of if invasive pneumococcal infections.
Symptoms:
- Irritability
- Nausea/vomiting
- Feeding poorly
Common symptoms such as fevers, headaches, and stiff necks can be tough to detect or might not even occur in neonates and infants. MFA urges anyone with these symptoms to seek medical attention immediately!
Diagnosis:
All types of meningitis are diagnosed by growing bacteria from a sample of the infected person's spinal fluid, which is collected by performing a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Results show whether or not the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) has increased white blood cells, lowered glucose or increased protein and is often stained if positive. The proper bacterial identification is important for selection of the correct antibodies.
Treatment:
Pneumococcal meningitis is treated with intravenous antibiotics such as ceftriaxone or penicillin and oral antibiotics such as ciproflaxin or rifampin, until the infection's resistance to the drugs contradicts treatment. Steroid medications are used to prevent hearing loss.
Source(s):
www.cdc.gov
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
Adolescents/adults
General:
Adults over the age of 65 who have diseases or take medications that lower the body's resistance to infection are at a greater risk of contracting pneumococcal meningitis. Their inefficient complement pathway compromises their immune system. Alaskan Natives and other Native American populations are at risk of contracting pneumococcal meningitis.
Pneumococcus lives in the back of the nose and throat and can attacks the human body for unkown reasons. It usually progresses into pneumococcal meningitis during an ear infection or pneumonia. People with weaker immune systems are at a greater risk of contracting bacterial meningitis.
Over 20% of those who contract pneumococcal meningitis die and 50% experience long term health complications such as deafness, paralysis, mental retardation, or limb loss. Septicemia or sepsis, which begins as the patikia rash, is a systemic response to an infection which causes limb loss, organ failure, and death in severe cases. Sepsis is a common side effect of bacterial meningitis that increases the fatality rate to 15%.
Prevention:
The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, Pneumovax is given to adults over 65 years old with sickle cell disease, HIV infection, or another immunocompromising condition. Most healthy adults who receive Pneumovax are protected within 2-3 weeks from the bacteria. Ask your medical doctor if you need a Pneumovax shot.
Symptoms:
- Irritability
- Fever (below normal)
- Headache
- Nausea/vomiting
- Stiff neck
- Sensitive to light
MFA urges anyone with these symptoms to seek medical attention immediately!
Diagnosis:
All types of meningitis are diagnosed by growing bacteria from a sample of the infected person's spinal fluid, which is collected by performing a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Results show whether or not the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) has increased white blood cells, lowered glucose or increased protein and is often stained if positive. The proper bacterial identification is important for selection of the correct antibodies.
Treatment:
Pneumococcal meningitis is treated with intravenous antibiotics such as ceftriaxone or penicillin and oral antibiotics such as ciproflaxin or rifampin, until the infection's resistance to the drugs contradicts treatment. Steroid medications are used to prevent hearing loss.
Source(s):
www.cdc.gov
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
