Causes of Bacterial Meningitis by Route
Route | Bacteria |
Infection in or around the head (eg, sinusitis, otitis, mastoiditis), sometimes with a leak of cerebrospinal fluid | Streptococcus pneumoniae Haemophilus influenzae Anaerobic and microaerophilic streptococci Bacteroides species Staphylococcus aureus |
Penetrating head wound | S. aureus |
Damaged skin (eg, skin infections, abscesses, pressure ulcers, large burns) | S. aureus |
An infected shunt | S. epidermidis |
A neurosurgical procedure | Gram-negative bacteria (eg, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Escherichia coli) |
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