DISEASE NAME:
Bacterial Meningitis (other than Invasive Meningococcal Disease)
CATEGORY:
Vaccine Preventable
Bacterial Meningitis (other than Invasive Meningococcal Disease)
Apart from Neisseria meningitidis, which is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in Ireland, other pathogens cause this disease, including those caused by non-notifiable organisms.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which is the name given to the covering layer of the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial organisms that cause meningitis that are notifiable in their own right, include Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Leptospira species, Listeria species, Tuberculosis and Streptococcus pyogenes.
Guidance
Guidelines for the early clinical and public health management of bacterial meningitis (including meningococcal disease) [Revised November 2016]
Management of Infectious Disease in Schools
Case definition
Clinical criteria
Any person with the following clinical picture: bacterial meningitis manifests most commonly with fever, headache, and a stiff neck; the disease may progress rapidly to shock and death. However, other manifestations may be observed.
Laboratory criteria for a confirmed case
At least one of the following two:
- Isolation of a bacterial species from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Detection of a bacterial species nucleic acid from CSF
Laboratory criteria for a probable case
At least one of the following two:
- Detection of bacteria in CSF by microscopy e.g. Gram stain
- CSF white cell count (WCC) differential, protein and glucose levels consistent with bacterial meningitis
Epidemiological criteria
NA
Case classification
A. Possible case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria
B. Probable case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria and the laboratory criteria for a probable case
C. Confirmed case
Any person meeting the laboratory criteria for a confirmed case
Note:
1. Exceptions: Nosocomial bacterial meningitis directly related to invasive procedures (e.g. craniotomy, placement of internal or external ventricular catheters, lumbar puncture, intrathecal infusions of medications, or spinal anesthesia), complicated head trauma, or in rare cases, metastatic infection in patients with hospital-acquired bacteremia is not notifiable. These cases of meningitis are caused by a different spectrum of microorganisms than cases acquired in the community setting, and illness is the result of diverse pathogenic mechanisms.
2. Notification of specified diseases causing meningitis: If a diagnosis of meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus Group B infection (invasive) or another listed bacterial pathogen has been made (even if they are considered to be a nosocomial case), please see the case definition for the particular disease/pathogen and notify under the relevant disease.
Current as of: 24 January 2019
Information, Data and Reports for Bacterial Meningitis (other than Invasive Meningococcal Disease)
Ireland’s specialist service for the surveillance of communicable diseases.