Neurological Infections Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on neurological infections.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges, diagnosed via lumbar puncture/spinal tap of CSF; treated initially with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain.

Meningoencephalitis

Inflammation of both the meninges and the brain.

Pneumococcal Meningitis

Meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (gram-positive, encapsulated diplococcus); prevented by conjugated vaccine.

Prion

Abnormally folded protein that causes normal proteins in brain tissue to misfold, leading to spongiform degeneration and fatal TSEs.

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE)

Chronic and fatal diseases caused by prions, such as sheep scrapie, BSE (mad cow disease), and CJD.

Listeria monocytogenes

Gram-positive rod that can cross the placenta, causing listeriosis; reproduces in phagocytes and can lead to meningitis in immunocompromised individuals or stillbirth in pregnant women.

Tetanus

Disease caused by Clostridium tetani; produces tetanospasmin neurotoxin that blocks muscle relaxation, leading to spasms; prevented by DTaP vaccine and booster every 10 years.

Tetanospasmin

Neurotoxin released by Clostridium tetani that blocks relaxation pathway in muscles, causing muscle spasms.

Botulism

Intoxication caused by Clostridium botulinum exotoxin; blocks acetylcholine release, causing flaccid paralysis; prevented with proper canning.

Rabies

Viral disease transmitted by saliva of animal bite, causing encephalitis; initial symptoms include muscle spasms and hydrophobia; prevented with PEP (vaccine plus immune globulin).

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Treatment for rabies after exposure, involving vaccine plus immune globulin.

Congenital Infections

Infections transmitted to the fetus across the placenta, potentially causing serious damage; detected via TORCH screen.

TORCH Screen

Panel of tests that screen for antibodies to infections in pregnant women that can transmit vertically.

Zika Virus

Arboviral disease transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes; can cause microcephaly in infants if contracted during pregnancy.

Cryptococcus neoformans

Fungus found in soil with bird droppings; transmitted via respiratory route; can spread to CNS in immunocompromised individuals, causing meningitis.

Treponema pallidum

Bacteria that causes syphilis; can cross the placenta, causing congenital syphilis.

West Nile Virus

Arboviral disease maintained in the bird-mosquito-bird cycle, carried by Culex mosquitoes; can cause polio-like paralysis and fatal encephalitis.