Logo American Journal of Case Reports

Call: 1.631.629.4328
Mon-Fri 10 am - 2 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports

A case of propionibacterium acnes meningitis: additional evidence for anaerobes in neurosurgical infections

Antonella Mencacci, Amedeo Moretti, Giuseppe Vittorio L. De Socio, Senia Farinelli, Francesco D’Alò, Corrado Castrioto, Francesco Bistoni

Case Rep Clin Pract Rev 2007; 8:243-246 :: ID: 503111

Abstract

Background: Propionibacterium acnes has been reported as a causative agent in a range of serious infections in humans, such as meningitis, infections associated with CSF shunts, wound infections, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis. Nevertheless this bacterium is usually considered of little
significance and is often dismissed as a simple contaminant when isolated in the microbiology laboratory. Indeed the isolation of Propionibacterium from clinical samples such as blood or CSF is often difficult to evaluate, especially in the presence of insidious and non-specific signs or symptoms, as in the case presented in this report.
Case Report: We report a case of meningitis due to Propionibacterium acnes, secondary to neurosurgery in a patient with glioblastoma multiforme. Clinical findings were consistent with a meningeal syndrome characterized by an insidious onset. Microbiological findings highlighted the presence of Gram positive rods on direct microscopic examination of Gram stained cytospin
preparations from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), followed by isolation of the bacterium in pure culture. The patient was successfully treated with ampicillin and clindamycin.
Conclusions: This case emphasizes the role of anaerobic bacteria in the etiopathogenesis of meningitis, particularly after neurosurgery, and the consequent need for anaerobic culture of CSF.

Keywords: Propionibacterium acnes, Meningitis, Neurosurgery

Add Comment 0 Comments

0

In Press

30 Jan 2024 : Case report  Poland

Successful Anesthetic Management for Obese Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease Undergoing Laparoscopic ...

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942736  

0:00

14 Mar 2024 : Case report  Latvia

Bilateral Low-Flow Type-D Dural Carotid-Cavernous Fistula: Diagnosis and Treatment with 3D Time-of-Flight M...

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942833  

0:00

31 Jan 2024 : Case report  China (mainland)

Gaucher Disease Coexisting with Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Rare Presentation in an Infant

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.943398  

31 Jan 2024 : Case report  Belgium

Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia in Acetaminophen-Related Acute Liver Failure

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942703  

Most Viewed Current Articles

10 Jan 2022 : Case report  Germany

A Report on the First 7 Sequential Patients Treated Within the C-Reactive Protein Apheresis in COVID (CACOV...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935263

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935263

19 Jul 2022 : Case report  Saudi Arabia

Atlantoaxial Subluxation Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Rare Orthopedic Complication from COVID-19

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.936128

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e936128

05 Mar 2022 : Case report  Brazil

Acute Limb Ischemia After Self-Injection of Crushed Morphine Tablets into the Radial Artery: Role of Infrar...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935336

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935336

02 Apr 2022 : Case report  Saudi Arabia

Infective Endocarditis Caused by Pseudomonas luteola in a Pediatric Patient. A Case Report and Review of Li...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935743

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935743

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923
American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923