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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
05:02

Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain

Published on: October 2, 2018

[Adult bacterial meningitis complicated by cerebral infarction: report of three cases]

Koji Takada1, Susumu Kojima, Takuya Hayashi

  • 1Department of Neurology, Misyuku Hospital, 5-33-12 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0051, Japan.

No to Shinkei = Brain and Nerve
|May 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial meningitis in adults can lead to brain infarction, a serious complication. Early MRI/MRA scans can detect these neurovascular issues, potentially improving outcomes with steroid therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis continues to cause high fatality and sequelae rates despite advances in antibiotic treatments.
  • Cerebrovascular complications are less commonly reported in adult bacterial meningitis compared to pediatric cases.

Observation:

  • Three adult patients with bacterial meningitis developed brain infarction.
  • Causative organisms included Group B Streptococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), particularly FLAIR and coronal views, revealed abnormalities near the brain surface.
  • Conventional angiography and MR-angiography (MRA) showed arterial tapering and stenosis in two cases.

Findings:

  • Routine MRI/MRA in adult bacterial meningitis cases can more readily identify neurovascular complications.
  • Brain infarction is a significant complication of bacterial meningitis in adults.

Implications:

  • Early detection of neurovascular complications through MRI/MRA may lead to timely interventions.
  • Adjunctive steroid therapy could potentially mitigate neurovascular complications associated with inflammatory vasculitis in bacterial meningitis.

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