A patient with possible viral meningitis is admitted to the nursing unit after lumbar puncture was performed in the emergency department. Which action prescribed by the health care provider should the nurse question? a. Elevate the head of the bed 20 degrees. b. Restrict oral fluids to 1000 mL daily.
Nutrition is an important aspect of care in a patient with meningitis When assessing a 53-year-old patient with bacterial meningitis, the nurse obtains the following data. Which finding should be reported immediately to the health care provider?
Meningitis can cause ICP to increase, possibly to the point of brain herniation. What actions should the nurse take for a client with increased ICP due to meningitis? -Avoid coughing and straining because can cause an increase.
The nurse should collaborate with the health care provider to manage the headache (with codeine), fever (with acetaminophen), and seizures (with phenytoin). The nurse assesses a patient for signs of meningeal irritation and observes for nuchal rigidity.
Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Viral meningitis is the most common and least serious type. Bacterial meningitis is rare, but can be very serious if not treated.
What is bacterial meningitis? Meningitis is an infection of the membranes (meninges) that protect the spinal cord and brain. When the membranes become infected, they swell and press on the spinal cord or brain. This can cause life-threatening problems. Meningitis symptoms strike suddenly and worsen quickly.
Once a bacteria reaches the brain, it can quickly spell trouble. Without any time for treatment, the illness can cause permanent and life-threatening damage to a person. That's why a severe disease like meningitis can cause panic when an outbreak occurs.
Typically in bacterial meningitis the white cell count is much higher than in viral meningitis (and is a different type of white cell), the protein is much higher and the glucose is much lower than in viral meningitis.
The drug of choice is ceftriaxone (2 g/day for 14-28 days). The alternative therapy is penicillin G (20 million U/day for 14-28 days). Doxycycline (100 mg orally or IV every 12 hours for 14-28 days) or chloramphenicol (1 g every 6 hours for 14-28 days) has also been used.
You should get medical advice as soon as possible if you're concerned that you or your child could have meningitis. Trust your instincts and do not wait until a rash develops. Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or your child might be seriously ill.
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: Meningococcal vaccines help protect against N. meningitidis.
In most cases, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. Most people who get mild viral meningitis usually recover completely in 7 to 10 days without treatment. Antiviral medicine may help people with meningitis caused by viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza.
The majority of people who get viral meningitis will make a good recovery with no long lasting after-effects. However, a number of people will be left with a variety of problems, some serious enough to cause permanent disability.
Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) is highly effective at protecting against four strains of the meningococcal bacteria. Three strains are common in the United States and the fourth strain protects travelers to certain countries where the disease is more common.
Main complications Some of the most common complications associated with meningitis are: hearing loss, which may be partial or total – people who have had meningitis will usually have a hearing test after a few weeks to check for any problems. recurrent seizures (epilepsy) problems with memory and concentration.
Approximately 80 percent of all cases are acute bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis can be life threatening. The infection can cause the tissues around the brain to swell. This in turn interferes with blood flow and can result in paralysis or even stroke.
When meningitis is suspected, antibiotic therapy (e.g., ceftriaxone) is instituted immediately after the collection of specimens for cultures, and even before the diagnosis is confirmed. Dexamethasone may also be prescribed before or with the first dose of antibiotics.
Shock is a serious complication of meningitis, and the patient's low blood pressure indicates the need for interventions such as fluids or vasopressors. Nuchal rigidity and a positive Kernig's sign are expected with bacterial meningitis.
Restraints should be avoided because they increase agitation and anxiety. The patient requires frequent assessment for complications; the use of touch and a soothing voice will decrease anxiety for most patients. The patient will have photophobia, so the light should be dim.
Dexamethasone may also be prescribed before or with the first dose of antibiotics. The nurse should collaborate with the health care provider to manage the headache (with codeine), fever (with acetaminophen), and seizures (with phenytoin). Click again to see term 👆. Tap again to see term 👆.
Meningococcal meningitis tends to occur in outbreaks. It is most likely to occur in areas of high-density population, such as college dormitories, prisons, and military barracks. The other questions do not identify risk factors for bacterial meningitis. A client has meningitis following brain surgery.
Viral meningitis does not cause cloudiness or increased turbidity of CSF. Protein levels are slightly increased, and glucose levels are normal. In bacterial meningitis, the presence of bacteria and white blood cells causes the fluid to be cloudy. The nurse should observe a client with bacterial meningitis for.