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Published on: November 5, 2019

First reported survival of anthrax meningoencephalitis in a low-incidence region: successful management with

Qiushuo Geng1,2, Ye Wang3, Yihao Fan4

  • 1School of Medical Device, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, China.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|August 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of anthrax meningoencephalitis survived due to rapid metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) diagnosis and effective combination antibiotic therapy. This approach is crucial for improving survival rates in severe Bacillus anthracis infections.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Anthrax meningoencephalitis is a rare and often fatal complication of Bacillus anthracis infection.
  • Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are critical for patient survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare survival case of anthrax meningoencephalitis.
  • To highlight the role of rapid molecular diagnostics and combination therapy in patient recovery.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 56-year-old male with anthrax meningoencephalitis.
  • Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for pathogen identification in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
  • Administration of CDC-recommended quadruple and triple antibiotic combination regimens.

Main Results:

  • Initial microscopy misidentified Bacillus anthracis as Bacillus cereus.
  • mNGS confirmed Bacillus anthracis in CSF within 48 hours, enabling timely treatment adjustment.
  • The patient achieved full neurological recovery following combination antibiotic therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Rapid mNGS-based diagnosis is vital for identifying Bacillus anthracis in meningoencephalitis.
  • Synergistic combination therapy, guided by rapid diagnostics, significantly improves survival outcomes.
  • This case emphasizes the importance of advanced molecular techniques in managing rare infectious diseases.
Keywords:
Bacillus anthracisMNGsanthrax meningoencephalitismetagenomic next-generation sequencingtriple antibiotic therapy

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