Metronidazole toxicity presenting with acute onset of aphasia and right sided weakness

Abstract

We report a 37-year-old man with a history of cirrhosis and methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia who presented from a nursing home with 1week of progressive confusion followed by acute onset of aphasia, forced left eye deviation and right sided weakness. While clinical presentation was concerning for a left middle cerebral artery stroke, MRI was consistent with leukoencephalopathy. The man had been on metronidazole for 2months for treatment of Clostridium difficile infection. This case exemplifies a stroke mimic to be considered when a patient presents with an acute focal neurological deficit.