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Meningitis in a Canadian adult due to high level penicillin-resistant, cefotaxime-intermediate Streptococcus

C Tremblay1, A M Bourgault, P St-Antoine

  • 1Service de microbiologie et maladies infectieuses, Hôpital St-Luc et Département de microbiologie et maladies infectieuses, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montréal, Québec.

The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases = Journal Canadien Des Maladies Infectieuses
|April 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) meningitis is a growing global concern. This case highlights a rare instance of PRSP meningitis in an adult, emphasizing the need for vigilance.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Invasive penicillin-resistant pneumococcal (PRSP) infections are a rising global health threat.
  • Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae exceeds 6% in Canada.
  • PRSP meningitis is exceptionally rare in adults, with only one prior pediatric case reported in Quebec.

Observation:

  • An adult patient presented with symptoms indicative of meningitis.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed Streptococcus pneumoniae as the causative agent.
  • The S. pneumoniae isolate exhibited high-level penicillin resistance and cefotaxime intermediacy.

Findings:

  • The study details a unique case of meningitis in an adult caused by highly penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae.
  • This represents the second reported case of PRSP meningitis in Quebec, and the first in an adult.
  • The pathogen demonstrated resistance to penicillin and intermediate resistance to cefotaxime.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the potential for PRSP meningitis to occur in adult populations.
  • It highlights the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.
  • Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for resistant pneumococcal meningitis in severe infections.
Keywords:
MeningitisPenicillin-resistant pneumococciStreptococcus pneumoniae

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