Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

[Community-acquired bacterial meningitis in the Loire-Atlantic region: evolution of pneumococcal and meningococcal

L Struillou1, E Ninin, C Berranger

  • 1Service de Médecine interne B, Hôtel Dieu, Nantes.

Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|March 27, 1999
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Community-acquired bacterial meningitis remains a concern, with significant antibiotic resistance observed in pneumococcal and meningococcal strains. This study highlights the need for updated treatment guidelines to combat emerging resistance patterns.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Context:

  • Community-acquired bacterial meningitis poses a significant public health challenge.
  • Antibiotic resistance in key pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis is a growing concern.
  • Understanding local epidemiological patterns is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose:

  • To conduct an epidemiological study of community-acquired bacterial meningitis in Loire-Atlantique.
  • To analyze risk factors associated with bacterial meningitis.
  • To assess changes in the susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis to betalactam antibiotics.

Summary:

  • The study analyzed 102 cases of bacterial meningitis between 1995 and 1998.
  • Key pathogens identified were Neisseria meningitidis (51%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (24%) in children, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (49%) and Neisseria meningitidis (14%) in adults.
  • Significant penicillin resistance was noted in 45% of pneumococcal and 50% of meningococcal strains, with 50% of pneumococcal strains also resistant to third-generation cephalosporins (C3G).

Impact:

  • The findings indicate a need to revise current treatment guidelines for bacterial meningitis.
  • Empirical treatment recommendations, such as combining third-generation cephalosporins (C3G) with vancomycin, may be necessary for meningococcal meningitis.
  • Increased frequency of sequelae was observed with resistant pneumococcal strains, underscoring the importance of susceptibility testing and appropriate antibiotic selection.

More Related Videos

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery10:03

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Published on: November 5, 2019

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/4306:06

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis01:24

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...