Prevention

Español: Prevención

Bacteria, viruses and fungi cause most meningitis. There are several actions you can take to help prevent infection caused by these organisms.

Bacterial Meningitis

Keeping up to date with recommended immunizations is the best defense. Maintaining healthy habits, like getting plenty of rest and not coming into close contact with people who are sick, can also help. If you are pregnant, you can reduce your risk of meningitis caused by Listeria bacteria (listeriosis) by cooking meats thoroughly and avoiding cheeses made from unpasteurized milk.

There are vaccines for three bacteria that can cause meningitis: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib):

Meningococcal vaccines

There are two kinds of vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis available in the US. Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Menomune®) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and available since 1981. Meningococcal conjugate vaccines, Menactra® and Menveo®, were licensed in 2005 and 2010, respectively. Each vaccine can prevent 2 of the 3 most commonly occurring strains in the US. Meningococcal vaccines cannot prevent all types of the disease, but they do protect many people who might become sick if they didn't get the vaccine. Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is routinely recommended for all 11 through 18 year olds and for certain high-risk children and adults. For information on meningococcal vaccines, visit the vaccine site.

Pneumococcal vaccines

There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine currently available: a polysaccharide vaccine and a conjugate vaccine. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV7 (Prevnar®), which was licensed in late 2000, was the first pneumococcal vaccine for use in children under the age of 2 years. PCV13 (Prevnar 13®), which was licensed in early 2010, replaces PCV7. Pneumococcal vaccines for the prevention of disease among children who are 2 years and older and adults have been in use since 1977. Pneumovax® is a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) that is currently recommended for use in adults who are 65 years of age and older, for persons who are 2 years and older and at high risk for pneumococcal disease (including those with sickle cell disease, HIV infection, or other immunocompromising condition), and for persons 19-64 years of age who smoke or have asthma. For information on pneumococcal vaccines, visit the vaccine site.

Hib vaccines

The Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine is highly effective against bacterial meningitis caused by a type of bacteria called Haemophilus influenzae type b. The Hib vaccine can prevent pneumonia (lung infection), epiglottitis (a severe throat infection), and other serious infections caused by Hib bacteria. It is recommended for all children under 5 years old in the US, and it is usually given to infants starting at age 2 months. Hib vaccine can be combined with other vaccines. For information on Hib vaccine, visit the vaccine site.

Viral Meningitis

People with certain viral infections can sometimes develop meningitis. There are no vaccines for the most common causes of viral meningitis. Thus, the best way to prevent it is to prevent viral infections. However, that can be difficult since sometimes people can be infected with a virus and spread the virus even though they do not appear sick. Following are some steps you can take to help lower your chances of becoming infected with viruses or of passing one on to someone else:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often, especially after changing diapers, using the toilet, or coughing or blowing your nose.
• Clean contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs or the TV remote control, with soap and water and then disinfect them with a dilute solution of chlorine-containing bleach.
• Avoid kissing or sharing a drinking glass, eating utensil, lipstick, or other such items with sick people or with others when you are sick.
• Make sure you and your child are vaccinated. Vaccinations included in the childhood vaccination schedule can protect children against some diseases that can lead to viral meningitis. These include vaccines against measles and mumps (MMR vaccine) and chickenpox (varicella-zoster vaccine).
• Avoid bites from mosquitoes and other insects that carry diseases that can infect humans.
• Control mice and rats. If you have a rodent infestation in and/or around your home, follow the cleaning and control precautions listed on CDC’s website about LCMV (Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus).

Fungal Meningitis

There is little evidence that specific activities can lead to developing fungal meningitis, although avoiding exposure to environments likely to contain fungal elements is prudent. People who are immunosuppressed (for example, those with HIV infection) should try to avoid bird droppings and avoid digging and dusty activities, particularly if they live in a geographic region where fungi like Histoplasma, Coccidioides, or Blastomyces species exist. HIV-infected people cannot completely avoid exposure. Some guidelines recommend that HIV-infected people receive antifungal prophylaxis if they live in a geographic area where the incidence of fungal infections is very high.

 

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