Meningitis Select One Bacterial, One Fungal, and Essay

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Meningitis

Select one bacterial, one fungal, and one viral pathogen capable of producing meningitis in humans.

Bacterial: Neisseria meningitidis

Fungal: Cryptococcus neoformans

Viral: Epstein-Barr virus

Describe the general characteristics and structure of each pathogen.

Neisseria meningitidis: parasitic, aerobic, Gram-negative, non-endospore forming, nonmotile, coccal bacterium (Devoe 1982,-page 162).

Cryptococcus neoformans: grows as a yeast, unicellular, replicates by budding, makes hyphae during mating, eventually creates basidospores (Heitman 2011).

Epstein-Barr virus: mature particle has diameter of 120 nm to 180 nm; has protein capsid, embedded with glycoproteins (Odumade 2011).

Describe in detail the pathogenic process for each pathogen. (How does the microbe produce meningitis?)

Neisseria meningitidis: Human infection begins with inhalation, attaching itself to the epithelial cells. Bacteria then passes the mucosal barrier and enters the bloodstream (Todar 2007).

Cryptococcus neoformans: Spores are inhaled by human beings. Infection can then spread throughout the body, most particularly the central nervous system (McClelland 2007,-page 131).

Epstein-Barr virus: The virus infects the salivary gland cells when brought into the mouth by saliva.

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The growth cycle of the virus is completed in this gland. At this point, infectious virus particles are created. This permanently alters the body's lymphatic system (Epstein-Barr 2013).

4. What are the risk factors for infection with each pathogen?

Neisseria meningitidis: Approximately 1 in 10 patients die, most within 24-48 hours after the onset of symptoms. Up to 1 in 5 of all survivors suffer from brain damage, loss of hearing, amputation of an arm or leg, or other permanent harm to the person's body (Dangers 2013).

Cryptococcus neoformans: People can die within 30 days of infection.

Epstein-Barr virus: This can lead to the development of serious diseases, including cancers. Rupture of the spleen is also a possibility. Obstruction of the airway can occur because of swelling lymph nodes (Stoppler 2013).

5. What are the common methods used to diagram infection?

Neisseria meningitidis: Diagnosis is usually made by taking sterile bodily fluid and isolating the infection. If bacteria have.....

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