Open AccessStreptococcus salivarius meningitis after spinal anaesthetic
Author(s) -
Messing Jonathan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
anaesthesia cases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2396-8397
DOI - 10.21466/ac.ssmasa2.2014
Subject(s) - meningitis , medicine , lumbar puncture , complication , spinal anesthesia , streptococcus salivarius , surgery , anesthesia , bacterial meningitis , lumbar , cerebrospinal fluid , streptococcus , biology , bacteria , genetics
Summary Meningitis following spinal anaesthesia is a recognised but rare complication. In this case, an uncommon pathogen is described causing severe meningitis, and became symptomatic within 17 hours of the spinal. Although the pathogen can be treated with standard therapy resulting in no long term neurological sequelae it raises questions regarding the wearing of face masks by staff in order to prevent contamination of both the site of lumbar puncture and the laboratory sample.