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Published on: July 3, 2025
Microbiologically confirmed meningoencephalitis due to Enterococcus avium: a first report
Sarah Jones1, Ruth England, Morgan Evans
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.
The Journal of Infection
|October 10, 2006
Abstract:
We describe an 80-year-old lady with a meningoencephalitic illness followed by vertebral discitis. Enterococcus avium was cultured from her cerebrospinal fluid. No other pathogen was incriminated in her illness. The meningoencephalitic illness settled after 3 weeks of antimicrobials, but the vertebral discitis required longer therapy.
Insights
A rare case of meningoencephalitis and vertebral discitis caused by Enterococcus avium in an elderly woman is presented. Prompt antimicrobial treatment resolved the brain infection, but spinal infection required prolonged therapy.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Meningoencephalitis and vertebral discitis are serious infections that can affect elderly individuals.
- Enterococcus avium is a Gram-positive bacterium that can cause a range of infections.
Observation:
- An 80-year-old female patient presented with meningoencephalitis.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed Enterococcus avium as the causative pathogen.
- The patient subsequently developed vertebral discitis.
Findings:
- The meningoencephalitis resolved within three weeks of antimicrobial therapy.
- Vertebral discitis, a spinal infection, necessitated a longer course of treatment.
- Enterococcus avium was the sole identified pathogen in this case.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for Enterococcus avium to cause severe central nervous system and spinal infections.
- It underscores the importance of considering Enterococcus species in polymicrobial or culture-negative infections.
- The findings suggest that vertebral discitis may require more aggressive or prolonged antimicrobial management compared to meningoencephalitis in certain cases.
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