Bacterial meningoencephalitis in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis: two case reports

Two patients with bacterial meningoencephalitis (BME) undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD) are reported. Patient 1 died of bacterial empyema caused by Streptococcus intermedius. Patient 2 was successfully treated by intravenous vancomycin (VCM), panipenem-betamipron and intrathecal VCM. Enterococcus avium from a sacral decubitus ulcer was suggested as a possible pathogen of BME in Patient 2. Autopsy findings in Patient 1 and antimicrobial options in Patient 2 are discussed with a review of the literature. In the two BME patients presented here, sepsis played an important role in their pathogenesis during the chronic HD state.