Pneumococcal meningitis

Pneumococcal meningitis is a severe, life-threatening bacterial infection of the central nervous system characterized by acute inflammation of the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord The pathogenesis typically involves hematogenous dissemination from nasopharyngeal colonization or direct extension from contiguous infections, followed by penetration across the blood-brain barrier

Pneumococcal meningitis is a severe, life-threatening bacterial infection of the central nervous system characterized by acute inflammation of the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord Within the subarachnoid space, rapid bacterial proliferation and a pronounced host inflammatory cascade lead to cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, cerebral edema, elevated intracranial pressure, and classic manifestations such as high fever, severe headache, nuchal rigidity, photophobia, and altered mental sta...

Caused by the Gram-positive bacterium *Streptococcus pneumoniae*, it can occur across all age groups but poses the greatest risk to young children, older adults, and immunocompromised or asplenic individuals

The pathogenesis typically involves hematogenous dissemination from nasopharyngeal colonization or direct extension from contiguous infections, followed by penetration across the blood-brain barrier Within the subarachnoid space, rapid bacterial proliferation and a pronounced host inflammatory cascade lead to cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, cerebral edema, elevated intracranial pressure, and classic manifestations such as high fever, severe headache, nuchal rigidity, photophobia, and altered me...

Within the subarachnoid space, rapid bacterial proliferation and a pronounced host inflammatory cascade lead to cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, cerebral edema, elevated intracranial pressure, and classic manifestations such as high fever, severe headache, nuchal rigidity, photophobia, and altered mental status