Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, matched cryogenically preserved K2EDTA plasma, sera (serum) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), bio-fluid samples from bacterial meningitis patients.
The K2EDTA plasma, sera (serum) and PBMC biofluid specimens are processed from meningitis patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Bacterial Meningitis Overview
Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life threatening form of meningitis that occurs due to a bacterial infection. Meningitis affects the membranes that cover a person’s brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis affects the meninges, which are membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The meninges work with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to protect the central nervous system (CNS).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bacterial meningitis has a mortality rate of around 10%. Additionally, 20% of patients who have bacterial meningitis end up with severe complications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent bacterial meningitis.
Due to the severity of bacterial meningitis, treatment should begin as soon as possible. Death from bacterial meningitis can occur in just a few hours.
Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes that outline the brain and spinal cord. These membranes are called meninges, giving the disease its name: “meningitis.”
Meningitis can be bacterial or viral, though there are also fungal forms of the disease. Viral meningitis is the most common form. Bacterial meningitis is the most serious form. Without treatment, bacterial meningitis can cause stroke, seizures paralysis, and even death.
Most cases of meningitis in the United States are caused by a viral infection. But bacteria, parasites and fungi also can cause it. Some cases of meningitis improve without treatment in a few weeks. Others can cause death and require emergency antibiotic treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis
According to the CDC, symptoms of meningitis usually emerge 3–7 days after infection. The WHO suggests that symptoms can develop over 2–10 days.
Early meningitis symptoms may be similar to the influenza (flu). Symptoms may develop over several hours or over a few days.
Symptoms of meningitis include the following:
- Confusion
- Coma
- Cold hands and feet
- Convulsions
- Drowsiness
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- No appetite
- Rashes
- Seizures
- Sensitivity to light
- Sleepiness
- Stiff neck
- Trouble waking
- Vomiting
Signs and Symptoms in Newborns
Newborns and infants may show following signs and symptoms of meningitis:
- A bulge in the soft spot on top of the baby’s head
- Being very sleepy or irritable
- Constant crying
- Being inactive or sluggish
- High fever\
- Not waking to eat\
- Poor feeding
- Stiffness in the body and neck
- Trouble waking from sleep
- Vomiting
Infants with meningitis may be hard to comfort. They may even cry harder when held.
Bacterial meningitis is a serious condition and can cause death within days without prompt antibiotic treatment. Delayed treatment also increases the risk of permanent brain damage.
It is also important to talk to your doctor if you’ve been exposed to someone with meningitis. That may include a family member or someone you live or work with. You may need to take medicines to prevent getting an infection.
How do you get Bacterial Meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis is caused by several different types of bacteria, including the following:
- E- Coli
- Hib or Haemophilus influenzae
- Group B strep
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Neisseria meningitidis or meningococcus
- Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus
Bacteria that cause meningitis can live in the body and the environment around you. In many cases they are harmless. This occurs when these bacteria get in the bloodstream and travel to the brain and spinal cord to start an infection.
Most bacteria that cause this form of infection are spread through close personal contact, such as:
An infected patient’s throat secretions, like phlegm and saliva, contain bacteria. When that patient coughs or sneezes the bacteria travel through the air. Most of the germs that can lead to bacterial meningitis are not contagious. The bacteria that cause meningitis are less contagious than viruses that cause the cold or flu.
Not all bacteria that cause meningitis are spread from one individual to another. You can also develop bacterial meningitis after eating certain foods containing the Listeria bacterium, such as:
- Hot dogs
- Sandwich meats
- Soft cheeses
Problems due to Listeria are more common in:
- Babies
- Pregnant women
- The elderly
Meningitis-causing bacteria are more likely to attack the membranes of your brain after a trauma such as:
- A head fracture
- Surgery
- Sinus infection
These conditions lower your immunity and disrupt your body’s natural barriers, leaving your body open to infection of any kind, including bacterial meningitis.
Bbabie’s and individuals with weak immune system are more likely to develop bacterial meningitis. It’s important to note that the cause of an infection can be difficult to pinpoint.
Causes of Bacterial Meningitis
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges that cover the brain. There are three membranes that make up the meninges:
- Arachnoid mater, which is the thin middle layer
- Dura mater, which is the dense outer layer
- Pia mater, which is a very thin membrane that lies directly on the brain and spinal cord
There is a space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater, called the subarachnoid space.
Bacteria can access a person’s meninges in various ways, such as:
- A result of ear or sinus infections
- Defect in the dura mater
- Through a surgical neurological procedures
- Via the bloodstream
Viral infections are the most common cause of meningitis. That’s followed by bacterial infections and, rarely, fungal and parasitic infections. Because bacterial infections can lead to death, learning the cause is essential.
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacteria that enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain and spinal cord cause bacterial meningitis. But bacterial meningitis also can occur when bacteria directly invade the meninges. This may be caused by an ear or sinus infection, a skull fracture, or sometimes surgeries.
Following are several strains of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis:
- Streptococcus Pneumoniae: This type of bacterium is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in infants, young children and adults in the United States. It more commonly causes pneumonia or ear or sinus infections. A vaccine can help prevent this infection.
- Neisseria Meningitidis: This type of bacterium causes a bacterial meningitis called meningococcal meningitis. These bacteria commonly cause an upper respiratory infection but can cause meningococcal meningitis when they enter the bloodstream. This is a highly contagious infection that affects mainly teenagers and young adults. It may cause local epidemics in college dormitories, boarding schools and military bases.A vaccine can help prevent infection. Even if vaccinated, anybody who has been in close contact with a patient with meningococcal meningitis should receive an oral antibiotic to prevent the disease.
- Haemophilus Influenzae: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacterium was once the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. But new Hib vaccines have greatly reduced the number of cases of this type of meningitis.
- Listeria Monocytogenes: These type of bacteria can be found in unpasteurized cheeses, hot dogs and lunch meats. Women who are pregnant, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most susceptible. During pregnancy, listeria can cross the placenta. Infections in late pregnancy may be fatal to the baby.
Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis is usually mild and often clears on its own. Most cases in the United States are caused by a group of viruses known as enteroviruses. They’re most common in late summer and early fall. Viruses such as herpes simplex virus, HIV, mumps virus, West Nile virus and others also can cause viral meningitis.
Chronic Meningitis
Chronic meningitis, one that’s long-lasting can be caused by slow-growing organisms such as fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. They invade the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain. Chronic meningitis develops over two weeks or more. Symptoms are similar to acute meningitis, which is a sudden, new case. They include headache, fever, vomiting and mental cloudiness.
Fungal Meningitis
Fungal meningitis isn’t common in the United States. It may mimic acute bacterial meningitis. It’s often contracted by breathing in fungal spores that may be found in soil, decaying wood and bird droppings.
Fungal meningitis isn’t spread from person to person. Cryptococcal meningitis is a common fungal form of the disease. It affects individuals with weakened immune systems, such as from AIDS. It can cause death if not treated with an antifungal medicine. Even with treatment, fungal meningitis may come back.
Parasitic Meningitis
Parasites can cause a rare type of meningitis called eosinophilic meningitis. Parasitic meningitis also can be caused by a tapeworm infection in the brain or cerebral malaria. Amoebic meningitis is a rare type that is sometimes contracted through swimming in fresh water and can quickly become life-threatening.
The main parasites that cause meningitis typically infect animals. Patients are usually infected by eating foods contaminated with these parasites. Parasitic meningitis does not spread among people.
Other Causes of Meningitis
Meningitis also can result from noninfectious causes. They include chemical reactions, drug allergies, some types of cancer and inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis.
How Bacterial Meningitis Spreads
Bacterial meningitis can spread via certain foods, such as unpasteurized dairy or deli meats. However, the CDC notes that bacterial meningitis usually spreads from person to person.
The spread of bacterial meningitis generally depends on the type of bacteria that causes it. Additionally, a person can have the bacteria that causes bacterial meningitis but not get sick themselves. These people are known as carriers. Someone who is a carrier for bacterial meningitis can still pass it on to other people.
Common ways that bacterial meningitis can spread include the following:
- Group B Streptococcus and E. coli: These bacteria can transfer to a baby during birth.
- H. influenzae, M. tuberculosis, and S. pneumoniae: These bacteria can spread via coughs and sneezes when a person is in close contact with other people.
- N. meningitides: This bacterium spreads through spit or saliva. A person can spread N. meningitides via coughing, kissing, or living in the same house as someone.
- E. coli: This bacterium spreads via food prepared by someone who did not wash their hands correctly after using the toilet.
Risk Factors of Bacterial Meningitis
A person can develop bacterial meningitis at any age. However, infants are at a higher risk of developing bacterial meningitis. People of different ages are likely to be affected by different forms of bacterial meningitis.
Children ages 2 years and under and people with weakened immune systems have a greater risk of developing pneumococcal meningitis.
Meningococcal meningitis is more likely to affect:
- College students
- Infants under 1 year old
- Individuals with weakened immune system
- Military recruits
- people who live in dormitories
- Travelers to countries where it is common
Other factors that increase the risk include the following:
- Abnormality or trauma between the throat and the subarachnoid layer of the meninges
- Cochlear implants
- Not having bacterial meningitis vaccinations
- Neurosurgery
- Skull fractures
Recurrent bacterial meningitis is possible. However, studies show that 59% of recurrent cases are due to anatomical problems, and 36% occur in people with a severely weakened immune system.
Diagnosis of Bacterial Meningitis
A doctor can diagnose meningitis based on a medical history, a physical exam and certain tests. During the exam, your doctor may check for signs of infection around the head, ears, throat and skin along the spine.
- Blood Cultures: A blood sample is placed in a special dish to see if it grows microorganisms such as bacteria. This is called a blood culture. A sample also may be placed on a slide and stained. Then it will be studied under a microscope to see whether bacteria are present.
- Imaging: Computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the head may show swelling or inflammation. X-rays or CT scans of the chest or sinuses may show an infection that may be associated with meningitis.
- Spinal Tap: A definitive diagnosis of meningitis requires a spinal tap to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In patients with meningitis, the fluid often shows a low sugar level along with an increased white blood cell count and increased protein.
Analyzing the fluid also may help identify which bacterium caused the meningitis.
Treatment of Bacterial Meningitis
According to the WHO, admission to a hospital or healthcare facility is necessary for the treatment of bacterial meningitis.
Treatment should begin as soon as possible.
Antibiotics
Early treatment for bacterial meningitis involves antibiotics that can cross the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is a wall of cells that prevents harmful micro-organisms from entering the brain.
Antibiotics that can help treat bacterial meningitis include the following:
- Ampicillin
- Ceftriaxone
- Penicillin
Doctors may recommend corticosteroids to reduce swelling in the patients brain. The patient may also require drainage of infected sinuses. If the patient develops seizures due to bacterial meningitis, they may also receive anticonvulsants.
Complications of Bacterial Meningitis
Meningitis complications can be severe. The longer you or your child has the disease without treatment, the greater the risk of seizures and permanent neurological damage, including:
- Brain damage
- Death
- Hearing loss
- Kidney failure
- Learning disabilities
- Memory problems
- Seizures
- Shock
- Trouble walking
With prompt treatment, even people with severe meningitis can have good recovery.
Prevention of Bacterial Meningitis
Several forms of bacteria can cause a person to develop bacterial meningitis. This means that various vaccines are required to prevent it. Currently, vaccines are available to prevent meningococcal, pneumococcal, and H. influenzae meningitis.
Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccine
Currently, the CDC recommends that children ages 11–12 years receive a meningococcal vaccine. The vaccine available for preteens also requires a booster shot at age 16.
Teenagers ages 16–18 years may receive an additional meningococcal shot. Although this shot is voluntary, the CDC recommends it for teenagers who:
- Have complement component deficiency, a rare immune disorder
- Are taking medications called complement inhibitors
- Have a damaged or removed spleen
- Are at risk of a serogroup B meningococcal disease due to an outbreak
- Have sickle disease
Pneumococcal Meningitis Vaccine
There are currently two vaccines available for pneumococcal meningitis. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is recommended for children ages 2 years and under and people who have certain medical conditions.
The second pneumococcal meningitis vaccine is called pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). The CDC recommends this vaccine for:
- All adults over 65
- Individuals ages 2–64 years with certain medical conditions
- Adults ages 19–64 years who smoke cigarettes
H. influenzae meningitis vaccine
Infants usually receive the Hib vaccine in three or four shots. They generally get their first Hib shot around 2 months old, and should have all their doses by 12–15 months old.
Children ages 1–5 years and not previously vaccinated for Hib may require one or more additional doses.
Anyone ages 5 years and over may require a Hib vaccine:
- If they have a damaged or removed spleen
- Before spleen removal surgery
- If they have sickle cell disease
- Following a bone marrow transplant
Healthcare professionals may also recommend the Hib vaccine for people ages 5–18 years with HIV .
Additional ways to prevent bacterial meningitis include the following:
- Avoiding sharing utensils, food, and glasses with people who have the infection
- Taking prescribed antibiotics if exposed to someone with the condition
- Avoiding smoking and cigarette smoke
- Being well rested
- Covering the nose when sneezing
- Frequent washing of hands
- Covering the mouth when coughing
- Avoiding being bitten by insects, as they can carry bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.
Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.
Our biobank procures and stores fully consented, deidentified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.
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This critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.
Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.
Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.
Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.
Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:
- Peripheral whole-blood
- Amniotic fluid
- Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
- Sputum
- Pleural effusion
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Serum (sera)
- Plasma
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
- Saliva
- Buffy coat
- Urine
- Stool samples
- Aqueous humor
- Vitreous humor
- Kidney stones (renal calculi)
- Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.
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