Original

Bacterial meningitis due to gram-negative bacilli in adults

P. Laguna-Del Estal, P. García-Montero, M. Agud-Fernández, M. López-Cano Gómez, A. Castañeda-Pastor, C. García-Zubiri [REV NEUROL 2010;50:458-462] PMID: 20414871 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.5008.2009455

OPEN ACCESS

Volumen 50 | Number 08 | Nº of views of the article 16.881 | Nº of PDF downloads 1.366 | Article publication date 16/04/2010

Download PDF Castellano Citation Search in PubMed

Share in:

Go to another issue

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION Gram-negative bacilli are causative agents of bacterial meningitis in the neonatal period but rarely cause meningitis in adults without risk factors.

AIM To report on meningitis due to gram-negative bacilli (MGNB) in adults diagnosed in a hospital over a 25-year period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the medical records of all patients with an age >= 14 years who had been diagnosed with MGNB between 1982 and 2006.

RESULTS Fifteen cases of MGNB are included (10.5% of the cases of bacterial meningitis with an identified aetiology), with a mean age of 48 years (14-79). Twelve (80%) were post-operative: recent neurosurgery (9 cases, 75%) and having a neurosurgical device (8 cases, 67%) were risk factors. Three (20%) were spontaneous: two were of a urinary origin and one had an undetermined origin. The aetiology was: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3 cases), Escherichia coli (3 cases), Enterobacter aerogenes (2 cases), Pseudomonas fluorescens (1 case), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1 case), Morganella morganii (1 case), Acinetobacter anitratus (1 case), Acinetobacter iwoffii (1 case) and Flavobacterium brevis (1 case); in one patient with Gram positive staining for gram-negative bacilli, the culture was negative, and three of them (20%) were mixed infections (Staphylococcus spp.). Three patients (20%) died.

CONCLUSIONS In adults, gram-negative bacilli rarely cause spontaneous meningitis, but are a common causation of post-neurosurgical meningitis and in those with neurosurgical devices. The mortality rate of MGNB is high. KeywordsBacterial meningitis Cerebrospinal fluid shunts Gram-negative bacteria Neurosurgical procedures Nosocomial meningitis Post-operative complications CategoriesInfecciones

FULL TEXT (solo disponible en lengua castellana / Only available in Spanish)

Acceso directo al último número

Último Podcast

Original

Bacterial meningitis due to gram-negative bacilli in adults