Bacterial or Viral: A Case of Central Nervous System Infection in a Young, Immunocompetent Adult

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a well-documented cause of encephalitis. However, its occurrence alongside concurrent bacterial infections is less commonly reported. Hence, we present this case report, which aims to trace the etiology of acute encephalitis in our patient, a 22-year-old farm attendant, who initially received intravenous and oral antibiotics that may have distorted the lumbar puncture results. The onset of his illness included typical symptoms such as fever, seizures, and altered mental status. The possibility of bacterial co-infection with HSV-1 viral meningoencephalitis, combined with the early administration of antibiotics in our patient, has inspired this case report to highlight the differential diagnosis concerning the microbiological epidemiology of meningoencephalitis, including concurrent bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.