What cell does bacterial meningitis affect?
So to your question, the bacteria itself travel and reproduce in the blood, and because the bacteria is capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier at the walls of the blood vessels, it is able to reach the CSF (cerebrosprinal fluid), which includes the brain and spinal cord (which are what become inflammed). So even though the bacterial doesn’t really “effect” the cell, it uses the blood cells to get into the CSF and cause the infection, as well as using it as a breeding ground, if you will.
