Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis and Intracranial Vasculopathy: Clinical Correlation with Improving Transcranial Doppler Hemodynamics

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae are Gram-positive bacteria that are responsible for many types of illnesses including pneumonia, sinus infections, and community-acquired meningitis. One important complication of bacterial meningitis is intracranial vasculopathy. Possible etiologies include vasculitis, vasospasm, endocarditis, or intra-arterial thrombosis. We present a case report of S. pneumoniae meningitis treated with antibiotics in which clinical improvement correlated with serial transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) improvement, suggesting vasospasm or vasculitis as a possible mechanism for intracranial vasculopathy.