Question

•What are the possible complications of bacterial meningitis, including the differences between meningococcal disease and meningococcemia?

•Identify the current treatment guidelines for bacterial meningitis.

•Discuss nursing responsibilities in monitoring a patient undergoing conscious sedation.

Answer 1

1.complications of meningitis?

* hair loss: which may partial and total.

* recurrent seizure ( epilepsy)

* problems with memory and concentration

* co- ordination movement and balance problems.

* learning difficulties and behavioral problems.

* vision loss.

Meningococcal disease : describes infections caused by the bacterium neisseria meningitis(also termed meningococcus). It has a high mortality rate if untreated but is vaccine preventable.while best know as a cause of meningitis.it can also result in sepsis.

Meningococcemia : Doctors called septicemia (a blood stream infection) caused by neisseria meningitidis meningococcal septicemia or meningococcemia.when some one has meningococcal septicemia, the bacteria enter the blood stream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels.

Meningococcemia is a rare infectious disease characterized by upper respiratory tract infection, fever, skin rash and lesions,eye and ear problems and possibly a sudden state of extreme physical depression (shock) which may be life threatening without appropriate medical Care.

2.current treatment bacterial meningitis,

Intravenous antibiotics eg, vancomycin, ampicillin,ceftriaxone,cefotaxime.and sometimes corticosteroids. This help to reduce the risk of complications, such as brian swelling and seizure.the antibiotic or combination of antibiotics depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection.

3. Nurses responsibilities,

* monitoring patients vital signs and dose of sedation.

* should be include continues pulse oximetry and ECG monitoring as well as intermittent recording of respiratory rate and blood pressure at a frequency of at least every 5 minute during the procedure.

* overseeing patients safty during sedation recovery.

* evaluating patients progress before during, and after medical procedure.