Mycobacterium fortuitum Meningitis: Approach to Lumboperitoneal Shunt Infection.
South Med J
; 112(4): 217-221, 2019 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30943540
ABSTRACT
Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rare, opportunistic pathogen most frequently contracted through contact with a contaminated source. An immunocompetent 26-year-old female patient presented to our institution with an infected lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt presenting as continued nonhealing wounds. After multiple debridements, shunt revisions, and wound closure failures, infectious disease specialists were consulted. The wound cultures returned positive for M. fortuitum and the shunt was removed. Cerebrospinal fluid studies revealed significant pleocytosis with normal opening pressure, and the patient was diagnosed as having secondary meningitis. After shunt removal, the patient was treated with intravenous and oral antibiotics, resulting in infection resolution. Five months later, a new LP shunt was placed without infection recurrence. Although M. fortuitum was previously reported in neurosurgical patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts, which are summarized here, to date this is the first case in the literature of M. fortuitum meningitis from an LP shunt. This case demonstrates the importance of clinicians considering uncommon and slow-growing pathogens, as well as consulting infectious disease specialists for patients with persistent, unexplained infections.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pseudotumor Cerebri
/
Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts
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Meningitis, Bacterial
/
Mycobacterium fortuitum
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Catheter-Related Infections
/
Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous
Limits:
Adult
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Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
South Med J
Year:
2019
Type:
Article