Meningitis - staphylococcal

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Central nervous system

Staphylococcal meningitis

• Fever
• Severe headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
• Rash

For any patient with meningitis, it is important to perform a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), where a sample of spinal fluid (known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) is obtained and sent to the lab for testing.

• High white blood cell count in blood and spinal fluid
• Spinal fluid stains and culture showing bacteria
• Blood culture growing Staphylococcus

Review Date: 09/06/2006
Reviewed By: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.