Meningitis

Etiology

Purulent meningitis

  • 18-50 years: S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis
  • >50 years: S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, Listeria, gram-negative bacilli
  • Impaired cellular immunity: Listeria, gram-negative bacilli, S. pneumoniae
  • Postsurgical or posttraumatic: S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, gram-negative bacilli
Aseptic meningitis
  • Mumps, coxsackievirus, echoviruses
  • Infectious mononucleosis
  • Leptospirosis, syphilis, Lyme disease
Chronic meningitis
  • TB or atypical mycobacteria
  • Fungi: Cryptococcus, Coccidioides, Histoplasma
  • Spirochetes: syphilis, Lyme disease, leptospirosis
  • Other: brucellosis, HIV infection, neurocysticercosis

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Last updated: December 1, 2014