immune deficiency and meningitis

Last reviewed 01/2018

Immunodeficiency and meningitis correlate as follows:

Cell mediated - T cells or macrophages lost:

  • lymphoma - Hodgkins, transplants, steroids, AIDS
  • get intracellular organisms - listeria

Humoral - antibodies absent:

  • CLL, myeloma, Hodgkins treatment
  • encapsulated organisms, S pneumonia, H. influenzae

Neutropenia/ neutrophil dysfunction:

  • pseudomonas, with no meningeal inflammation

Asplenia:

  • autosplenectomy, trauma, elecitve splenectomy, irradiation
  • encapsulated organisms - S.aureus, H. influenzae, N.meningitidis