Are There Bacteria In The Brain?

Bacteria are essential as they allow your body to perform many functions. They are found in many parts of the body: From the mouth to the genitals, the digestive tract and the skin. But are there bacteria in the brain?

Microbial flora

Before we dive into this topic, we need to explain the concept of microbial flora. What is it? What does it consist of? Where is it?

The flora or microbiota consists of a series of microorganisms located in many different places in multicellular organisms.

The components of the microbiota usually have a symbiotic relationship with the organism they live in. In other words, both benefit from each other.

The key to this problem is the word “normal”. A bacterium that causes a medical condition should not be part of the person’s typical flora. If that were the case, it would not cause a medical condition.

However, it is possible for a common, uncontrolled bacterium to cause a disease. An atypical concentration will at all times characterize the bacterium as abnormal.

Now that we have explained the difference between normal and abnormal bacterial flora, we will dive deeper into the topic of this article.

The presence of bacteria is not always positive

Since bacteria live in important systems such as the digestive system in humans, it is common to wonder if other systems, such as the nervous system, benefit from these microorganisms. The answer is a resounding no. In fact, a person who has bacteria in the brain is in serious danger.

Below we tell you all about a condition associated with the presence of these microorganisms in the nervous system, which is a perfect example of why they should not be there.

Acute bacterial meningitis

The brain, which consists of the cerebellum, cerebrum, and brainstem, has three layers of tissue called meninges:

• Dura mater, which is the outermost layer.
• Arachnoid, which is the middle layer.
• Pia mater, which is the inner layer.

Between the arachnoid and the pia mater, there is a subarachnoid through which the cerebrospinal fluid flows. Acute bacterial meningitis is when certain bacteria infect tissues and this fluid, causing severe swelling in the patient.

The immune system detects foreign microorganisms and sends antibodies to eradicate them, which causes general swelling.

According to the Merck Manuals, the symptoms of this disease manifest themselves in several ways:

• Older children and adults develop a stiff neck that makes it difficult or impossible to take the chin down to the chest.
• This characteristic symptom is accompanied by headache and high fever.
• If the cranial nerves become inflamed due to the infection, the patient may experience double vision, deafness and other problems.
• But that’s not all bad news. Vaccines can reduce the risk of suffering from this disease. In addition, if detected early, the use of antibiotics generally has a positive prognosis.

How do bacteria get into the brain?

Bacteria can enter the brain in various ways, as is also clear from Merck Manuals, as we mentioned above:

• The bacteria can spread from the bloodstream to the brain after successfully multiplying in any other organ.
• Penetration through wounds in the head can also allow bacteria to enter the brain.
• Brain or spinal cord surgery weakens these systems, which also facilitates the access of pathogens.
  As such, the risk factors are clear. The more exposed the organ is, the easier it is for unwanted substances to penetrate it.

Bacteria in the Brain: Should We Be Concerned?

Despite this, you should not be overly concerned about these ailments. In general, the most susceptible people are newborn babies or the elderly, as uncontrolled bacterial growth is often associated with weakened immune systems.

As we mentioned above, effective antibiotic treatments usually also have a positive prognosis. Similarly, vaccines prevent the occurrence of these conditions, especially in newborns.

Prevention and early diagnosis are key. If you think you have a bacterial infection, do not hesitate to go to the doctor as this will prevent uncontrolled growth in unwanted places.