Bacterial Meningitis and Cochlear Implants

Jordan Hoel, Calvin Keyes,Dustin Movinsky,Erica Whitson

Cochlear Implants

• Cochlear implants are a surgically implanted electronic device that provide a sense of sound to profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing individuals.

• Older versionsof cochlear implants use “positioners”.

Photo courtesy of “http://thinkorthwim.com/ “

Cochlear Implants

• Positioners were used to facilitate electrical currents by holding the implant up against the wall of the cochlea.

• These cochlear implants were discontinued after 2002, but were in manufacture between 1999 and July 2002.

Bacterial Meningitis

• Meningitis is an inflammation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

• Most cases of bacterial meningitis are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

• While not specific to this strain of bacterium, the meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) can help lower the risk of infection.

Bacterial Meningitis

• Symptoms of meningitis usually appear three to seven days after exposure.

• Severe headaches, stiff neck muscles and fever are the most common symptoms but also nausea, sensitivity to light and vomiting have been reported.

Linking Bacterial Meningitis & Cochlear ImplantsA 2004 Study, «Bacterial Meningitis

Among Children With Cochlear Implants Beyond 24 Months After Implantation » found that the inclusion of a positioner increased the risk of contracting bacterial meningitis.

Linking Bacterial Meningitis & Cochlear ImplantsThe 2004 results were taken from a

cohort of 4265 children, only 829 of which had positioners, as shown in the graphic below.

Photo courtesy of Pediatrics Journal.

Linking Bacterial Meningitis & Cochlear Implants• During the 2004 study only 12

new cases of bacterial meningitis were reported.

• Of those 12, 11 had implants that included positioners.

• Positioners do not cause meningitis, they simply increase the risk of infection.

Bibliography• Biernath, Krista, Reefhuis, Jennita,

Whitney, Cynthia, Mann, Eric, & Costa, Pamela. (2006). Bacterial meningitis among children with cochlear implants beyond 24 months after implantation. Pediatrics, retrieved from “http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/117/2/284”.

Bibliography• Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. (2009, June 29). CDC - Meningitis: Topic Home. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html