About Bacterial Meningitis

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Key points

  • Bacterial meningitis is serious and death can occur in a few hours.
  • Most people recover from bacterial meningitis if managed properly.
  • Those who recover can have permanent disabilities.
  • Learn when to see medical care for meningitis.
Computer-generated illustrations of three bacterial causes of meningitis: Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

What it is

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by a bacterial infection. Several bacteria can cause meningitis. Leading U.S. causes vary by risk factors and include:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis or TB, is a less common cause.

Symptoms

People with bacterial meningitis usually have typical meningitis symptoms.

When to seek emergency care

‎Anyone with symptoms of meningitis should see a healthcare provider right away. A healthcare provider can determine if you have meningitis, what's causing it, and the best treatment.

Complications

Complications can include seizures, coma, and death. Many of these bacteria are associated with another serious illness, sepsis.

Keep Reading Sepsis

Risk factors

Certain factors increase a person's risk for getting bacterial meningitis.

Age

Some causes are more likely to affect certain age groups:

Newborns

  • Group B Streptococcus
  • E. coli
  • S. pneumoniae

Babies and young children

  • S. pneumoniae
  • H. influenzae
  • Group B Streptococcus
  • N. meningitidis

Teens and young adults

  • S. pneumoniae
  • N. meningitidis
Older adults

  • S. pneumoniae
  • Group B Streptococcus
  • H. influenzae
  • L. monocytogenes
  • N. meningitidis

Certain medical conditions

Certain medical conditions, medications, and surgical procedures put people at increased risk, including:

  • Having a weakened immune system
  • Having a cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • Not having a spleen

Group setting

Infectious diseases tend to spread where large groups of people gather. For example, college campuses have reported outbreaks of meningococcal disease, caused by N. meningitidis.

Travel

Travelers may be at increased risk for meningococcal disease

Travelers should also avoid being with people known to have TB in crowded, enclosed environments.

Pregnancy

Being pregnant increases someone's risk of getting a Listeria infection (L. monocytogenes). Some foods are more likely to contain Listeria than others.
Preventing Listeria

How it spreads

Learn how bacteria that cause meningitis spread:

Prevention

Vaccination

Vaccines are the most effective way to protect against certain types of bacterial meningitis.

There are vaccines for 4 types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. All but the last are widely used in the United States.

See Also Vaccines and Immunizations

Pregnancy screening

Pregnant women should talk to their healthcare provider about getting screened for group B Streptococcus. Healthcare providers give antibiotics (during labor) to women who test positive for the bacteria. This helps prevent passing the bacteria to their babies.

Keep Reading Screening for Group B Strep

Preventive antibiotics

Sometimes antibiotics can help prevent people from getting sick if they were around someone with bacterial meningitis. Healthcare providers and health departments decide who should get these preventive antibiotics.

Testing and diagnosis

There are laboratory tests for meningitis.

Treatment and recovery

Healthcare providers treat bacterial meningitis with antibiotics. It's important to start treatment as soon as possible.

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)