Pneumococcal meningitis

Etiology and epidemiology

 * G+ pneumococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae
 * affects predominantly adults
 * is preceded by inflammation of paranasal sinuses, mastoitis, less often other pneumococcal infections

Clinical symptoms

 * the course is quite slow, the disease develops within a few days
 * fever rises, headaches occur, vomiting, or meningeal syndrome
 * in case of direct transmission of the infection to the meninges (after trauma, collaps of an abscess) the development is rapid, within hours.

Diagnosis

 * positive agar cultivation finding of pneumococcus (from the cerebrospinal fluid)

Therapy

 * it is necessary to remove the primary lesion – mastoidectomy, fracture repair, sinusitis
 * BenzylPNC is effective in our country (but in high doses of 500 000IU/kg/day via rapid infusions)
 * chloramphenicol or III. generation cefalosporins – always at least 14 days i.v.

Prognosis

 * is not favorable, up to 20% of those affected die, it is even worse for the elderly or splenect pacients

Prevention

 * polyvalent Pneumo23 vaccine for children above 2 years of age and for risk groups among adults

Related articles

 * Meningitis: Haemophilus meningitis ▪ Meningococcal meningitis ▪ Viral meningitis
 * Cerebrospinal fluid
 * Purulent meningitis