Understanding Staphylococcal Meningitis

Staph is a common bacteria that can cause a minor infection, such as a pimple, or a major infection, like meningitis.

By Jean Rothman

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

Staphylococcus is a common type of bacteria that are probably on your skin or in your nose right now. There are various strains of staphylococcus bacteria, often called staph, and they cause numerous kinds of infections. 

Staphylococcus bacteria meningitis is activated by the staph strains S. aureus and S. epidermis. You’ve likely heard of the former — S. aureus has become resistant to many types of antibiotics, and that resistant strain is called methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.

Severe Complications of Staphylococcal Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a potentially deadly inflammation of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The possible complications of staphylococcal meningitis are severe, and include:

• Bleeding
• Shock, which can damage organs and be life-threatening
• Brain infections
• Staph infections located elsewhere in the body

The disease is fatal in 5 to 15 percent of cases. Those with the highest risk of death are young children and adults over the age of 50. Patients with suppressed immune systems are at particular risk of death. 

Most often, staph meningitis will occur after surgery or develop from an infection in a different part of the body that has been carried to the brain by the bloodstream. 

Staphylococcal Meningitis Symptoms

Symptoms of staphylococcal meningitis should be taken very seriously. Time is of the essence: The earlier treatment begins, the 

 greater chance of a better outcome. Typical symptoms are: 

• Stiff neck
• Severe headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Photophobia, or sensitivity to ligh
• Confusion

Children’s symptoms may also include:

• High-pitched crying
• Fussiness
• Arching of the back
• Being hard to wake up

Do not wait: Go immediately to the ER or call 911 if you or your child has these symptoms. 

Treatments Options for Staphylococcal Meningitis

Intravenous (IV) antibiotics should be used right away to treat staphylococcal meningitis to reduce the chance of severe illness or death. 

In addition, the physician will look for sources of staph bacteria around the body and remove them. Some places in which staph bacteria may appear are in shunts, tubes used to divert the flow of a bodily fluid, and artificial heart valves.

As the patient recovers from staph meningitis, other treatments may be prescribed for comfort and symptom relief, including:

• Medicines to lower fever and reduce headache pain
• Bed rest
• Additional oxygen or a respirator if the patient has trouble breathing

Can Staphylococcal Meningitis Be Prevented?

Some people who are at high risk for developing meningitis may avoid it by taking antibiotics prior to having diagnostic procedures and surgery. 

Those at high risk include people with:

• Heart valve infections
• Previous brain infections
• Brain surgery
• Past meningitis that was related to shunts for spinal fluid

Talk to your doctor to find out whether you are at high risk for staphylococcal meningitis and whether taking antibiotics before procedures may help you reduce your risk of contracting the disease.