Pneumocephalus associated with Bacteroides fragilis meningitis. 2004

M S Parmar
University of Ottawa, Timmins & District Hospital, Timmins, Ontario P4N 8R1, Canada. atbeat@ntl.sympatico.ca

Gas within the intracranial cavity (pneumocephalus) commonly results from trauma or after surgery and rarely from infection by gas-forming organisms. The presence of pneumocephalus in the absence of injury or surgery should raise the suspicion of anaerobic infection of the central nervous system. I present a case of pneumocephalus associated with Bacteroides fragilis meningitis where the diagnosis was suspected after CT findings become available. Bacteroides fragilis meningitis is rare and often occurs in premature infants and neonates; only few cases are reported in adults. Pneumocephalus associated with Bacteroides fragilis meningitis is not described in the literature. This case also illustrates the absence of classic findings of meningeal irritation in the elderly. The literature is reviewed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011007 Pneumocephalus Presence of air or gas within the intracranial cavity (e.g., epidural space, subdural space, intracerebral, etc.) which may result from traumatic injuries, fistulous tract formation, erosions of the skull from NEOPLASMS or infection, NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES, and other conditions. Cranial Pneumocyst,Intracranial Gas,Pneumocephalus, Tension,Cranial Airocele,Pneumocephalus, Epidural,Pneumocephalus, Traumatic,Pressure Pneumocephalus,Airocele, Cranial,Airoceles, Cranial,Cranial Airoceles,Cranial Pneumocysts,Epidural Pneumocephalus,Gas, Intracranial,Pneumocephalus, Pressure,Pneumocyst, Cranial,Pneumocysts, Cranial,Tension Pneumocephalus,Traumatic Pneumocephalus
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D001441 Bacteroides fragilis Gram-negative bacteria occurring in the lower intestinal tracts of man and other animals. It is the most common species of anaerobic bacteria isolated from human soft tissue infections.
D016920 Meningitis, Bacterial Bacterial infections of the leptomeninges and subarachnoid space, frequently involving the cerebral cortex, cranial nerves, cerebral blood vessels, spinal cord, and nerve roots. Bacterial Meningitis,Bacterial Meningitides,Meningitides, Bacterial

Related Publications

M S Parmar
January 2014, Indian journal of pathology & microbiology,
M S Parmar
June 1994, Singapore medical journal,
M S Parmar
January 1987, Reviews of infectious diseases,
M S Parmar
June 1977, Lancet (London, England),
M S Parmar
February 1985, Journal of clinical microbiology,
M S Parmar
October 1986, Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983),
M S Parmar
August 1984, Canadian Medical Association journal,
M S Parmar
February 2006, Medicina clinica,
M S Parmar
October 1996, European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology,
M S Parmar
January 1990, Reviews of infectious diseases,
Copied contents to your clipboard!