Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus meningitis

Noella Maria Delia Pereira1, Ira Shah1, Alpana Ohri1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics , Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children , Parel, Mumbai , India.

Oxford Medical Case Reports
|November 27, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meningitis is a rare but serious infection in children. This case highlights a successful treatment of MRSA meningitis with a combination antibiotic regimen in an 11-year-old girl.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Meningitis caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is uncommon in pediatric populations.
  • Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for managing severe infections.

Observation:

  • An 11-year-old girl presented with symptoms including fever, headache, vomiting, right hemiparesis, left facial nerve palsy, and bladder incontinence.
  • Neurological examination revealed signs consistent with meningitis and a focal neurological deficit.

Findings:

  • Diagnostic investigations confirmed MRSA meningitis.
  • Cerebral imaging identified an acute left thalamo-corpuscular infarct.
  • The patient was treated with a combination of vancomycin, linezolid, and rifampicin.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the possibility of MRSA meningitis in children, despite its rarity.
  • Successful treatment with a multi-drug regimen suggests effective therapeutic options are available.
  • Prompt management can lead to favorable outcomes, although residual neurological deficits may persist.

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