Caulobacter spp: A Rare Pathogen Responsible for Paucisintomatic Persisitant Meningitis in a Glioblastoma Patient

Abstract

Background: Caulobacter spp. are Gram-negative bacteria that have rarely been found to be pathogenic in humans.

Case description: This report describes the first case, to our knowledge, of meningitis in an adult patient caused by Caulobacter spp. A 75-year-old man was operated for a glioblastoma with no evident signs of primary infection in the wound site. Eight days after surgery, the patient developed signs and symptoms of meningitis. Caulobacter was then isolated on 3 separate occasions in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid. Thereafter, specific antibiotic therapy began. After 2 weeks of therapy, the patient was discharged with complete resolution of any related symptoms.

Conclusions: Caulobacter spp. can cause adult meningitis even where there is no evidence of surgical site infection.

Keywords: Caulobacter; Complications; Glioblastoma; Meningitis; Neurosurgery; Postoperative meningitis.