Professor talks about bacterial infection leading to meningitis

BUFFALO, NY — Meningitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the spinal cord and brain and can be caused by a number of factors. Doctors say that not all causes are infections, but the ones that always worry us the most are infectious because they progress quickly due to a virus or bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued an alert to doctors regarding an increase in cases of invasive meningococcal disease.

Experts say there are three to four bacteria that commonly cause meningitis over the years, but cases have declined thanks to good vaccines. Today, there is an increase in cases of one of these types because people have not received or completed their vaccinations.

Dr. John Sellick, an infectious disease expert at the University at Buffalo, says the infections we’re seeing now aren’t all meningitis. Some of these are reactions to sepsis, when meningococcal bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause symptoms. or infections in the joints.

This is separate from the diagnosis of meningitis, but Sellick says cases of meningitis start with invasion of the bloodstream and then it depends on where the bacteria goes. He says the meningococcal bacteria can cause enough damage on its own in the bloodstream, but if it ends up in the membrane that lines our nervous system, then it’s a diagnosis of meningitis.

“I think what the CDC, the state health department and other organizations have done is reminded everyone how serious this is,” Sellick said. “Because, again, we’re in an era of, you know, somebody, my age, I saw a lot of meningitis early in my career, but now we have a lot of younger practitioners who may have never seen a case of meningitis.

The patients doctors see with symptoms of bacterial infection often have compromised immune systems – some are elderly, some are HIV positive, and some are also young. The symptoms really depend on where the bacteria is located.

Sellick assures that it’s generally not something that will spread like COVID-19 did, with thousands of cases in a week. But even though the number of cases due to meningococcal bacteria is low, they are quite serious. That’s why he says if you’re in a group of immunocompromised patients, check with your doctor about your vaccine needs.