Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Acute Bacterial Meningitis

  • Chapter
Critical Care Infectious Diseases Textbook

  • 475 Accesses

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis is defined as the inflammation of both leptomeninges and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that they contain, when caused by bacterial organisms. As a rule, the infectious process also affects the ependymus and ventricular CSF [1]. The most frequent bacterial meningitis are those due to pyogenic organisms that usually cause the typical clinical picture of acute meningitis with purulent CSF. The purulent aspect of the CSF is due to both bacterial growth and an intense polymorphonuclear response. Other bacterial agents, such as Brucella melitensis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Treponema pallidum, Leptospira sp and Borrelia burgdorferi, can also cause meningitis that often runs a subacute or chronic course and presents with clear CSF showing a predominantly lymphocytic pleocytosis. These agents will not be considered in this chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Tunkel AR, Scheld WM. Acute meningitis. In Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R (eds). Principles and practice of infectious diseases, 4th edn, New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1994:831.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Durand ML, Calderwood SB, Weber DJ, et al. Acute bacterial meningitis in adults. A review of 493 episodes. N Engl J Med 328:21, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Schuchat A, Robinson K, Wenger JD, et al. Bacterial meningitis in the United States in 1995. N Engl J Med 337:970, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wenger JD, Hightower AW, Facklam RR, Gaventa S, Broome CV. Bacterial meningitis in the United States, 1986: report of a multistate surveillance study. J Infect Dis 162:1316, 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Adams WG, Deaver KE, Cochi SL, et al. Decline of childhood Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease in Hib vaccine era. JAMA 269:221, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Liptak GS, McConnochie KM, Roghmann KJ, Panzer JA. Decline of pediatric admissions with Haemophilus influenzae type b in New York State, 1982 through 1993: relation to immunizations. J Pediatr 130:923, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kaufman BA, Tunkel AR, Pryor JC, Dacey RG Jr. Meningitis in the neurosurgical patient. Infect Dis Clin North Am 4:677, 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ostabal MI, Suarez Pinilla MA, Sanz Sebastian C, Millastre A. Epidemiological study of nosocomial meningitis. Rev Neurol 24:265, 1996.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Pottecher T, Balabaud-Pichon V. Meningites nosocomiales de l’adulte. Ann Franc Anesth Rean 18:558, 1999.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Núñez ML, Martinez-Toldos MC, Bru M, Simarro E, Segovia M, Ruiz J. Appearance of resistance to meropenem during the treatment of a patient with meningitis by Acinetobacter. Scand J Infect Dis 30:421, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Schoenbaum SC, Gardner P, Shillito J. Infections of cerebrospinal fluid shunts: epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and therapy. J Infect Dis 131:543, 1975.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kaufman BA, McLone DG. Infections of cerebrospinal fluid shunts. In Scheid WM, Whitley RJ, Durack DT (eds). Infections of the central nervous system. New York: Raven Press, 1991:561.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ferré C, Ariza J, Viladrich PF, et al. Brain abscess rupturing into the ventricles or subarachnoid space. Am J Med 106:254, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Saez-Llorens X, et al. Molecular pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis: Current concepts and therapeutic implications. J Pediatr 116:671, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Quagliarello V, Scheid WM. Bacterial meningitis: Pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and progress. N Engl J Med 327:864, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Pfister HW, Fontana A, Täuber MG, Tomasz A, Sheld WM. Mechanisms of brain injury in bacterial meningitis: workshop summary. Clin Infect Dis 19:463, 1994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Viladrich PF. Enfermedad meningocócica en adolescentes y adultos (Hospital de Bellvitge, 1977–1990). Doctoral Thesis. Universidad de Barcelona, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Casado Flores J, García Teresa MA, Cambra F, et al. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico de la meningitis bacteriana grave pediátrica. Ann Esp Pediatr 47:466, 1997.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lacroix J, Deal C, Gauthier M, Rousseau E, Farrell FA. Admissions to a pediatric intensive care unit for status epilepticus: a 10-year experience. Crit Care Med 22:827, 1994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Viladrich PF, Buenaventura I, Gudiol F, et al. Meningitis neumocócica del adulto. Estudio de 141 episodios. Med Clin (Barc) 87:569, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Pfister HW, Felden W, Einhäupl KM. Spectrum of complications during bacterial meningitis in adults. Arch Neurol 50:575, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Viladrich PF, Gudiol F. Avances en las infecciones del sistema nervioso central producidas por bacterias grampositivas. Rev Clin Esp 194:847, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Carpenter RR, Petersdorf RG. The clinical spectrum of bacterial meningitis. Am J Med 33:262, 1962.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Banks HS. Meningococcosis: a protean disease. Lancet ii:635 and 677, 1948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Brandtzaeg P. Pathogenesis of meningococcal infections. In Cartwright K (ed). Meningococcal disease. Chichester: John Wiley, 1995:71.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Viladrich PF, Gudiol F, Run G, et al. Meningitis bacteriana. Etiologia y focos de origen de 482 episodios. Med Clin (Barc) 86:615, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ariza J, Casanova A, Viladrich PF, et al. Etiological agent and primary source of infection in 42 cases of focal intracranial suppuration. J Clin Microbiol 24:899, 1986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Sánchez C, Garau J, Viladrich PF, Nogueras A, Liñares J. La listeriosis del adulto: epidemiología, elínica, pronóstico y tratamiento. Med Clin (Barc) 84:533, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Fredricks DN, Relman DA. Application of polymerase chain reaction to the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Clin Infect Dis 29:475, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Coant PN, Kornberg AE, Duffy C, Dryja DM, Hassan SM. Blood culture results as determinants in the organism identification of bacterial meningitis. Pediatr Emerg Care 8:200, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Milhaud D, Bernardin G, Rastello M, Mattei M, Blard JM. Meningites bacteriennes de l’adulte en reanimation médicale. Analyse clinique et etude des facteurs pronostiques. Press Med 25:353, 1996.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Horwitz SJ, Boxerbaum B, O’Bell J. Cerebral herniation in bacterial meningitis in childhood. Ann Neurol 7:524, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. McDonald JT, Uden DL. Intravenous glycerol and mannitol therapy in children with intracranial hypertension. Neurology 32:437, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Coyle PK. Glucocorticoids in central nervous system bacterial infection. Arch Neurol 56:796, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Odio CM, Faingezicht I, Paris M, et al. The beneficial effects of early dexamethasone administration in infants and children with bacterial meningitis. N Engl J Med 324:1525, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Mclntyre PB, Berkey CS, King SM, et al. Dexamethasone as adjunctive therapy in bacterial meningitis. A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials since 1988. JAMA 278:925, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Girgis NI, Farid Z, Mikhail IA, et al. Dexamethasone treatment for bacterial meningitis in children and adults. Pediatr Infect Dis J 8:848, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Quagliarello VJ, Scheid WM. Treatment of bacterial meningitis. N Engl J Med 336:708, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Almirante B, Cortés E, Pigrau C, et al. Terapeútica y evolueión de la meningitis neumocócica del adulto. Estudio de una serie reciente de 70 episodios. Med Clin (Barc) 105:681, 1995.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Alvarez-Lerma F, Cisneros JM, Viladrich PF, et al. Indications for admission to the intensive care service of adult patients with severe infections. Enf Infecc Microbiol Clin 16:423, 1998.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Sáez-Nieto JA, Vázquez JA, Marcos C. Meningococci moderately resistant to penicillin. Lancet 336:54, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Galimand M, Gerbaud G, Guibourdenche M, Riou JY, Courvalin P. High-level chloramphenicol resistance in Neisseria meningitidis. Lancet 339:868, 1998.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Pérez Trallero E, García Arenzana JM, Ayestarán Y, Muñoz Baroja I. Comparative activity in vitro of 16 antimicrobial agents against penicillin-susceptible meningococci and meningococci with diminished susceptibility to penicillin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 33:1622, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Viladrich PF, Pallarés R, Ariza J, Rufi G, Gudiol F. Four days of penicillin therapy for meningococcal meningitis. Arch Intern Med 146:2380, 1988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Viladrich PF. Las meningitis meningocócicas. Neurología 12:181, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Viladrich PF. Tratamiento y evolueión de la meningitis causada por neumococos resistentes a la penicilina. Rev Clin Esp 196, monográfico 2:9, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Viladrich PF, Gudiol F, Linares J, et al. Evaluation of vancomycin for therapy of adult pneumococcal meningitis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 35:2467, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Friedland IR, Klugman KP. Cerebrospinal fluid bactericidal activity against cephalosporin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with meningitis treated with high-dosage cefotaxime. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 41: 1888, 1997.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Viladrich PF, Cabellos C, Pallarés R, et al. High doses of cefotaxime in treatment of adult meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae with decreased susceptibilities to broad-spectrum cephalosporins. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 40:218, 1996.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Klugman KP, Friedland IR, Bradley JS. Bactericidal activity against cephalosporin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in cerebrospinal fluid of children with acute bacterial meningitis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 39:1989, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Viladrich PF, Cabellos C, Martos A, Martinez Lacasa JT, Gudiol F. Lack of efficacy of pneumococcal vaccine in preventing pneumococcal meningitis due to cerebrospinal fluid leaks. 32nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), October 1992, Anaheim, California, USA. (Abstract no. 1282).

    Google Scholar 

  52. Cherubin CE, Appleman MD, Heseltine PNR, et al. Epidemiologic spectrum and current treatment of listeriosis. Rev Infect Dis 13:1108,1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Cabellos C, Viladrich PF, Corredoira J, Verdaguer R, Ariza J, Gudiol F. Streptococcal meningitis in adult patients: current epidemiology and clinical spectrum. Clin Infect Dis 28:1104, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Alcaide F, Liñares J, Pallarés R, et al. In vitro activities of 22 beta-lactam antibiotics against penicillin-resistant and penicillin-susceptible viridans group streptococci isolated from blood. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 39:2243, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Fernández Viladrich P. Papel de meropenem en la meningitis bacteriana. Enf Infecc Microbiol Clin 15 (Suppl):5761, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Viladrich PF, Corbella X, Corral L, Tubau F, Mateu A. Successful treatment of ventriculitis due to carbapenen-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii with intraventricular Colistin sulfomethate sodium. Clin Infect Dis 28:916, 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Levin AS, Barone AA, Penço J, et al. Intravenous Colistin as therapy for nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Clin Infect Dis 28:1008, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Frasch CE. Meningococal vaccines: Past, present and future. In Cartwright K (ed). Meningococcal disease. Chichester: John Wiley, 1995:245.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Korinek AM. Risk factors for neurosurgical site infections after craniotomy: a prospective multi-center study of 2944 patients. Neurosurgery 41:1073, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Viladrich PF, Tubau F, Cabellos C, et al. Vancomycin plus rifampin for therapy of adult pneumococcal meningitis. Clin Microbiol Infect 5 (suppl 3):250: (abstract no. P6l6), 1999.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. P. Fernández Viladrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain

    Jordi Rello M.D., Ph.D.

  2. University Rovira & Virgili, Tarragona, Spain

    Jordi Rello M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Corporacio Sanitaria Parc Tauli, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Valles M.D., Ph.D.

  4. Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    Marin H. Kollef M.D.

  5. Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    Marin H. Kollef M.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Viladrich, P.F. (2001). Acute Bacterial Meningitis. In: Rello, J., Valles, J., Kollef, M.H. (eds) Critical Care Infectious Diseases Textbook. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1679-8_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1679-8_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5674-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1679-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation