Bacterial Pathogens and Risk/Predisposing Factors
Table. Bacterial Pathogens and Risk or Predisposing Factors [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] (Open Table in a new window)
Risk and/or Predisposing Factor |
Bacterial Pathogen |
Age 18-50 y |
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis |
Age >50 y |
S pneumoniae, N meningitidis, Listeria monocytogenes, aerobic gram-negative bacilli |
Immunocompromised state |
S pneumoniae, N meningitidis, L monocytogenes, aerobic gram-negative bacilli |
Postneurosurgery |
Aerobic gram-negative bacilli (including Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (especially Staphylococcus epidermidis) |
Basilar skull fracture |
S pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, group A β-hemolytic streptococci |
Cerebrospinal fluid shunt |
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (especially S epidermidis), S aureus, aerobic gram-negative bacilli, Propionibacterium acnes |