Key points
- Bacterial meningitis is serious and death can occur in a few hours.
- Most people recover from bacterial meningitis if managed properly.
- Those who recover can have permanent disabilities.
- Learn when to see medical care for meningitis.
What it is
Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by a bacterial infection. Several bacteria can cause meningitis. Leading U.S. causes vary by risk factors and include:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Group B Streptococcus
- Escherichia coli
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Listeria monocytogenes
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis or TB, is a less common cause.
Symptoms
People with bacterial meningitis usually have typical meningitis symptoms.
When to seek emergency care
Complications
Complications can include seizures, coma, and death. Many of these bacteria are associated with another serious illness, sepsis.
Risk factors
Certain factors increase a person’s risk for getting bacterial meningitis.
1.Age
Some causes are more likely to affect certain age groups:
Newborns
Babies and young children
Teens and young adults
Older adults
2.Certain medical conditions
Certain medical conditions, medications, and surgical procedures put people at increased risk, including:
- Having a weakened immune system
- Having a cerebrospinal fluid leak
- Not having a spleen
3.Group setting
Infectious diseases tend to spread where large groups of people gather. For example, college campuses have reported outbreaks of meningococcal disease, caused by N. meningitidis.
4.Travel
Travelers may be at increased risk for meningococcal disease
- During the annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage
- In sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season
Travelers should also avoid being with people known to have TB in crowded, enclosed environments.
Pregnancy
Being pregnant increases someone’s risk of getting a Listeria infection (L. monocytogenes). Some foods are more likely to contain Listeria than others.
How it spreads
Learn how bacteria that cause meningitis spread:
Prevention
Vaccination
Vaccines are the most effective way to protect against certain types of bacterial meningitis.
There are vaccines for 4 types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. All but the last are widely used in the United States.
- Hib vaccines (Haemophilusinfluenzae serotype b)
- Meningococcal vaccines (N. meningitidis)
- Pneumococcal vaccines (S. pneumoniae)
- Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine (M. tuberculosis)
See Also Vaccines and Immunizations
Pregnancy screening
Pregnant women should talk to their healthcare provider about getting screened for group B Streptococcus. Healthcare providers give antibiotics (during labor) to women who test positive for the bacteria. This helps prevent passing the bacteria to their babies.
Keep Reading Screening for Group B Strep
Preventive antibiotics
Sometimes antibiotics can help prevent people from getting sick if they were around someone with bacterial meningitis. Healthcare providers and health departments decide who should get these preventive antibiotics.
Testing and diagnosis
There are laboratory tests for meningitis.
Treatment and recovery
Healthcare providers treat bacterial meningitis with antibiotics. It’s important to start treatment as soon as possible.