Streptococcus pyogenes is a rare but aggressive cause of meningitis, which often evolves in a poor outcome with fatal consequences. Although lumbar puncture and CT scan of the brain are the gold standard of diagnosis of cerebral infections, they can have some limitations. We report and describe the clinical history and neuroimaging of a 36-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department of our hospital three days after the onset of earache and otorrhoea. When the patient developed an emergent refractory status epilepticus, the CT scan of the brain showed an unusual pneumocephalus. However, the MRI study of the brain revealed a pachymeningitis with partial thrombosis of the right transverse sinus and subdural empyema due to a S. pyogenes otitis media. Prompt diagnosis and the specific findings of the MRI allowed rapid correct treatment and thus led to a good outcome for the patient.

Gritti, P., Lanterna, A., Sarnecki, T., Brembilla, C., Agostinis, C., Rizzi, M., et al. (2014). What is hiding behind bubbles of air? an unusual streptococcus pyogenes meningitis [Cosa si nasconde dietro le bolle d’aria? Un’inusuale meningite da Streptococcus pyogenes]. LE INFEZIONI IN MEDICINA, 22(4), 317-321.

What is hiding behind bubbles of air? an unusual streptococcus pyogenes meningitis [Cosa si nasconde dietro le bolle d’aria? Un’inusuale meningite da Streptococcus pyogenes]

Lorini F
2014

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes is a rare but aggressive cause of meningitis, which often evolves in a poor outcome with fatal consequences. Although lumbar puncture and CT scan of the brain are the gold standard of diagnosis of cerebral infections, they can have some limitations. We report and describe the clinical history and neuroimaging of a 36-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department of our hospital three days after the onset of earache and otorrhoea. When the patient developed an emergent refractory status epilepticus, the CT scan of the brain showed an unusual pneumocephalus. However, the MRI study of the brain revealed a pachymeningitis with partial thrombosis of the right transverse sinus and subdural empyema due to a S. pyogenes otitis media. Prompt diagnosis and the specific findings of the MRI allowed rapid correct treatment and thus led to a good outcome for the patient.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Cerebral empyema; Meningitis; Pneumocephalus; Sinus thrombosis; Streptococcus pyogenes;
English
2014
22
4
317
321
none
Gritti, P., Lanterna, A., Sarnecki, T., Brembilla, C., Agostinis, C., Rizzi, M., et al. (2014). What is hiding behind bubbles of air? an unusual streptococcus pyogenes meningitis [Cosa si nasconde dietro le bolle d’aria? Un’inusuale meningite da Streptococcus pyogenes]. LE INFEZIONI IN MEDICINA, 22(4), 317-321.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/337323
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