Pathophysiology of Bacterial Meningitis

Predisposing Factors Age (pre teens) Race African Americans Gender (male)

Legend: Legend: Related to client M RelatedFlow of disease to client Flow ofSigns and symptoms disease Signs and symptoms

Precipitating Factors Invasion of pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae Lifestyle Cigarette smoking Alcoholism Pregnancy Compromised immune system Head trauma Neurosurgical procedure Living in a Community setting Working with domestic animals

Bacteria lodges in the nasopharynx Mucosal invasion Bacteria enters the blood stream Bacteria finds its way to the choroid plexus Bacteria crosses the blood-brain barrier And enters cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Body reacts with an inflammatory response BACTERIAL MENINGITIS High fever Nuchal Rigidity Brudzinskis sign Kernigs sign Headache Nausea and vomiting Joint or muscle pain Photophobia Drowsiness Seizures Confusion Petechiae Rash

With medical, surgical and nursing intervention Medical intervention Hearing loss Diagnostics Blindness Throat Culture Radiologic studies Memory loss Lumbar puncture Loss of speech Pharmacologic Anti-bacterial Learning disability Ceftriaxone Ampicillin Behavioral problem Gentamicin Corticosteroid Dexamethasone Nursing intervention Assess neurologic function often Maintain adequate nutrition and elimination Monitor fluid balance Optimum level of functioning Good prognosis

Without medical, surgical and nursing intervention Disease process progresses Neurologic damage Kidney failure

Shock Bad prognosis Death