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An unusual etiology of post-traumatic meningitis

Allen T Griffin1, Forest W Arnold

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|April 17, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium perfringens can cause infections after trauma, but central nervous system infections are rare. This case highlights a rare instance of post-traumatic meningitis caused by Clostridium perfringens and Enterococcus faecium.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Clostridium perfringens is a known cause of soft tissue and bone infections following trauma.
  • Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by Clostridium species, particularly spontaneous or post-traumatic meningitis, is exceptionally rare.

Observation:

  • A case of meningitis developed subsequent to a traumatic injury.
  • The patient presented with symptoms indicative of central nervous system infection.

Findings:

  • Cultures from the cerebrospinal fluid revealed the presence of both Clostridium perfringens and Enterococcus faecium.
  • This dual infection represents an unusual etiology for post-traumatic meningitis.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering Clostridium species in the differential diagnosis of meningitis, even in post-traumatic settings.
  • The identification of Enterococcus faecium alongside Clostridium perfringens suggests potential polymicrobial infections in CNS trauma.
  • Further research may be warranted to understand the pathogenesis and optimal treatment strategies for such rare CNS infections.

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