Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 21, 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

Bacterial meningitis in children and adults. Changes in community-acquired disease may affect patient care

E J Phillips1, A E Simor

  • 1Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Ontario, Canada. andrew.simor@sunnybrook.on.ca

Postgraduate Medicine
|March 31, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial meningitis remains a serious threat, with changing causes and increasing drug resistance. New vaccines may soon make this infection preventable.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening emergency with significant morbidity and mortality.
  • The epidemiology of community-acquired bacterial meningitis has shifted following the introduction of the H influenzae type b vaccine.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is now the leading cause in most age groups, while Neisseria meningitidis predominates in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current epidemiology of bacterial meningitis.
  • To discuss the implications of changing causative agents and antimicrobial resistance on empirical treatment strategies.
  • To highlight the potential impact of novel vaccine development on disease prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epidemiological data on bacterial meningitis.
  • Analysis of current treatment guidelines and antimicrobial susceptibility trends.
  • Evaluation of the role of vaccines in preventing bacterial meningitis.

Main Results:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae has emerged as the most common bacterial cause of meningitis in North America.
  • Increasing drug resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae necessitates reconsideration of current empirical antibiotic choices.
  • Neisseria meningitidis remains a significant pathogen in specific pediatric age groups.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial meningitis continues to pose a public health challenge, requiring updated treatment and prevention strategies.
  • The rise of drug-resistant strains underscores the need for vigilant monitoring and development of new therapeutic options.
  • Advancements in conjugate pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines hold promise for making bacterial meningitis a preventable disease.

More Related Videos

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat08:27

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat

Published on: October 29, 2014

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness12:21

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

Published on: September 28, 2022

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...
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...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
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...