Acinetobacter baumannii: A Rare Cause of Meningoencephalitis in a Patient on Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

Multiple drug resistant Acinetobacter spp. are usually responsible for hospital-acquired infections. Development of a central nervous system infection due to Acinetobacter spp. without head trauma or neurosurgical procedure is rare. We report a case of meningoencephalitis caused by A. baumannii in a diabetic 36-year-old man on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. He was admitted to hospital because of sudden loss of consciousness and jaw tightening, and his physical examination revealed high fever and nuchal rigidity. Laboratory investigations showed elevated acute phase reactants, in addition to normal cranial computed tomographic and electroencephalographic findings. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination disclosed an elevated protein concentration and very low glucose level. Following the growth of A. baumannii in CSF culture, meropenem treatment provided a complete cure.