Spontaneous Escherichia coli K1 meningitis in an adult

We have described a 47-year-old white woman who had spontaneous E coli K1 meningitis after acquiring an E coli K1 urinary tract infection with associated sepsis. The patient's symptoms consisted only of severe headache, fever, and malaise. She had no meningeal or focal neurologic signs, and the CSF did not contain white blood cells. Evidence of meningitis included elevated opening pressure on lumbar puncture, positive CSF culture, and small ventricles on CT scan.