A rare case of pneumococcal and meningococcal mixed meningitis in an infant with cardiac dysfunction

Abstract

Meningitis is commonly caused by a viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection that involves the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and leads to inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Among bacterial pathogens responsible for meningitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae is notorious for causing more than 50% of all cases of bacterial meningitis. Neisseria meningitis is also a major cause of bacterial meningitis. Here, we report a rare case of a 13-month-old infant with cardiac dysfunction associated with meningitis caused by co-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitides. Cardiac dysfunction is a condition where the heart pumping becomes less effective and the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the body’s needs. Bacteria were isolated by culture and detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on CSF. The patient was treated with vancomycin, ceftriaxone, and rifampin followed by three months of follow-up without any clinical symptoms. This raises the possibility of finding other cases of mixed neonatal meningitis in the future since the incidence of meningitis is currently increasing in the region.