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Published on: November 5, 2019

[Nosocomial post-neurosurgery meningitis due to Corynebacterium jeikeium]

Sabrina Morosi1, Massimo Marroni, Ada Maristella Egidi

  • 1Clinica delle Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia. sabrinamorosi@hotmail.com

Recenti Progressi in Medicina
|August 5, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Rare meningitis caused by Corynebacterium jeikeium occurred in a patient post-neurosurgery without central nervous system devices. This case highlights a unique infection following pituitary tumor removal.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Post-neurosurgical meningitis is a known complication, though rare.
  • Corynebacterium jeikeium is an opportunistic pathogen typically associated with immunocompromised individuals or device-related infections.

Observation:

  • A 78-year-old patient with chronic myeloproliferative syndrome underwent resection of a pituitary macroadenoma.
  • The patient subsequently developed an acute meningeal syndrome.

Findings:

  • Cultures revealed meningitis caused by Corynebacterium jeikeium.
  • This infection occurred in the absence of any central nervous system devices.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the potential for Corynebacterium jeikeium to cause meningitis in non-device-related post-neurosurgical settings.
  • Highlights the importance of considering unusual pathogens in immunocompromised patients presenting with meningeal symptoms after surgery.

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