What is Bacterial Meningitis?

Bacterial meningitis is a life threatening infection seen in the membranes which surround the brain and spinal cord. People can die from bacterial meningitis in a matter of a few hours, making it critical for treatment to be provided as soon as possible. With rapid treatment, many patients have a very good prognosis. If treatment is delayed, a patient may experience an insult to the brain which leads to disability or the patient could die as a consequence of the infection.

Several bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis. They can cross the barrier which normally keeps organisms out of the brain as a result of aggressive sinus and ear infections or head trauma which creates an open wound. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b have all been linked with bacterial meningitis. As they enter the cerebrospinal fluid which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, the immune system responds, causing inflammation.

The trinity of symptoms which characterize bacterial meningitis are: headache, stiff neck, and fever. The patient may also develop nausea, confusion, and fatigue. In very young children sometimes these symptoms are not as identifiable and the patient may instead be restless and fussy. Complications of the inflammation can include blood clots, stroke, and brain herniation, in which the brain swells and cell death occurs as the pressure inside the skull increases. Patients can develop seizures, go into shock, or fall into a coma if they are not treated.

As soon as a doctor identifies bacterial meningitis, intravenous antibiotics are administered. An antibiotic cocktail is usually used because there is not enough time to find out which organism is responsible. Supportive therapies may be provided to help the patient breathe and to address complications which may arise, such as surgery to relieve pressure inside the skull. If the treatment is successful, the patient may make a full recovery. Patients who develop cognitive deficits as a result of bacterial meningitis can benefit from physical, speech, and other forms of therapy to help them remap their brains to recover from the injury to the brain.

The organisms which cause bacterial meningitis are contagious, but intimate contact is usually required to pass them from person to person. People can reduce their risks of developing or passing on this dangerous infection by washing their hands regularly and observing basic sanitation guidelines such as covering their mouths and noses while sneezing. In addition, a vaccine is available to protect people against some of the organisms which cause bacterial meningitis, and is often recommended for people who will be living in close quarters like college dorms and military barracks.