Meningitis Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria: Signs, Origins, and Remedies
Bacterial meningitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This condition can develop rapidly and is often characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, sensitivity to light, and more.
Babies who have bacterial meningitis may also show additional symptoms such as being slow or inactive, irritability, vomiting, feeding less well, bulging fontanel, and abnormal reflexes. It's important to note that these symptoms can develop suddenly and require immediate medical attention.
The symptoms of bacterial meningitis generally develop 3-7 days after exposure to the causative bacteria. Common samples used for a gram stain test, which helps check for infection and categorize bacteria, include wound samples, blood, urine, throat and tonsil cultures, and thick mucus from the lungs called sputum.
Vaccines are the most effective way of helping to prevent a person from developing bacterial meningitis. Vaccines are available to protect a person from N. meningitidis and H. influenzae serotype b (Hib).
Risk factors for developing bacterial meningitis include having a weakened immune system, health conditions such as diabetes or HIV, having a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, having had a spleen removal, being among large groups of people, working with meningitis-causing bacteria, traveling to areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, being Native American or Alaskan Native, and going to Mecca during Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage.
If a person has been in close contact with someone who has bacterial meningitis, a doctor may recommend that they also take antibiotics as a preventative measure.
Gram-negative meningitis is a form of meningitis caused by gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria have an outer membrane that is difficult for antibiotics to pass through, making them harder to treat. The list of gram-negative bacteria that can cause gram-negative meningitis includes E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis), Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens.
Treatment of gram-negative meningitis generally includes third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins such as ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefepime, or ceftazidime, possibly combined with gentamicin for synergistic effect, and colistin reserved for multidrug-resistant strains. The choice of antibiotics depends on local resistance patterns, specific pathogens, and clinical context.
Doctors may prescribe the antibiotic ceftriaxone to treat gram-negative meningitis, but may prescribe a variety of medications to cover all possible causative bacteria. If a doctor suspects a person has gram-negative meningitis, they may take blood and CSF samples for analysis.
To help reduce the spread of bacterial meningitis and other health issues, it's recommended to avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, get enough sleep, avoid close contact with people who are sick, wash hands with soap and water frequently, use hand sanitizer when unable to wash hands, and cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Recovering from bacterial meningitis can result in health issues such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning difficulties. It's crucial to seek immediate medical attention if any symptoms of bacterial meningitis are present.
- Bacterial meningitis, a potentially life-threatening infectious medical-condition, affects the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord.
- The onset of symptoms for bacterial meningitis usually occurs 3-7 days after exposure to the causative bacteria, and may include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, sensitivity to light, among others.
- Mental-health issues, brain damage, hearing loss, and learning difficulties can potentially arise as chronic diseases during recovery from bacterial meningitis.
- Health-and-wellness practices, such as fitness-and-exercise, a balanced nutrition, and maintaining good mental-health, can contribute to a stronger immune system and possibly help prevent the development of bacterial meningitis and other neurological-disorders.
- While CBD is not directly related to bacterial meningitis, it has gained attention in scientific studies as a potential treatment for various chronic diseases, including neurological-disorders.
