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Case Reports
. 2025 Jun 18:41:e02292.
doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2025.e02292. eCollection 2025.

Crossing boundaries: E. coli meningitis as an uncommon complication of hemorrhoidectomy

Zarif Kazi  1 , Asbah Rahman  1 , Branden Biegert  1 , Jordan Daloya  1 , Chanaka Seneviratne  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Crossing boundaries: E. coli meningitis as an uncommon complication of hemorrhoidectomy

Zarif Kazi et al. IDCases. .

Abstract

Escherichia coli meningitis is a rare cause of meningitis in adults. Overall, mortality due to meningitis is improving, but remains high for gram negative bacteria. It often progresses rapidly, and even if treated appropriately, can lead to long-term complications. An emerging concern is bacterial resistance to the empiric antibiotic regimen used in meningitis. The effect of adjunct dexamethasone on reducing mortality or preventing complications remains inconclusive. Here, we discuss a case of severe E. coli meningitis in a 56-year-old woman after a hemorrhoidectomy, leading to brain herniation and cardiac arrest.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Delayed diagnosis; Escherichia coli; Hemorrhoidectomy complication; Meningitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Zarif Kazi reports article publishing charges was provided by Maimonides Medical Center. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Potential transmission pathway for meningitis from hemorrhoidectomy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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