Successful treatment of a patient with ventriculoperitoneal shunt-associated meningitis caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite that modern antibiotics effectively penetrate cerebrospinal fluid to eradicate bacteria. A clinical suspicion of bacterial meningitis should be recognized early for the rapid diagnostic workup. Bacterial meningitis associated with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is not uncommon and infrequently presents as abdominal symptoms and signs. Infections of the central nervous system caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) are extremely rare, and such multiple drug-resistant pathogens frequently cause inappropriate treatments and mortality. β-Lactamases are bacterial enzymes that inactivate β-lactam antimicrobial agents. The increased prevalence of ESBL-producing organism infections has become a worldwide problem. Timely and appropriate treatment is important to reduce mortality and morbidity of infections caused by ESBL-producing organisms. Here, we report a 61-year-old male patient who underwent VPS implantation for consequent hydrocephalus following spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage six months before this presentation. He was admitted for intermittent fever and right lower quadrant abdominal pain, and he was initially managed as acute appendicitis with its typical presentation. Finally, he was diagnosed VPS-associated meningitis caused by ESBL-KP. This patient was successfully treated with the combination of meropenem, a carbapenem antibiotic that is the drug of choice for treating ESBL-producing organisms, and high-dose fosfomycin, a phosphonic acid derivative antibiotic that is effective in treating some drug-resistant pathogens. In the present report, we emphasize the clinical presentations of catheter-related meningitis and risk factors for infections caused by ESBL-producing pathogens. Antibiotic combination therapy can provide synergistic effect and maximize anti-bacterial activity in ESBL-KP meningitis.