Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium-associated encephalitis and concurrent cerebellitis

Abstract

Enterococci are uncommon etiologic agents of central nervous system infections. We describe a case of nosocomial encephalitis and concurrent cerebellitis associated with Enterococcus faecium in a man, with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, who underwent high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Brain magnetic resonance images showed lesions in the bihemispheral cerebellar cortex with swelling and several small lesions in both cerebral hemispheres. The blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were positive for vancomycin-resistant E. faecium. Vancomycin-resistant E. faecium can cause encephalitis and concurrent cerebellitis in an immunocompromised patient who underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. © Versita Sp. z o.o.