Streptococcus salivarius meningitis after spinal anesthesia.

Abstract

(Laurila, Kostamovaara) Specialist.(Alahuhta) Acting Professor.BACTERIAL meningitis is a rare but very serious complication after spinal anesthesia. In the recent anesthesiology literature there are only a few reports of postspinal meningitis verified with positive Gram staining and culture. We report here a case of Streptococcus salivarius meningitis that developed in a 16-yr-old boy within 16 h after an uncomplicated arthroscopy performed during spinal anesthesia.A 16-yr-old previously healthy boy underwent spinal anesthesia for arthroscopy of the right knee because of a meniscus rupture. Preoperatively, he had no clinical signs of infection and he was afebrile.During induction of spinal anesthesia, the anesthesia resident performing the block wore a mask and gloves and used an autoclave-sterilized dressing pack and sterile disposable needles and syringe. The lumbar skin area appeared normal and was prepared with chlorhexidine-alcohol-solution (Klorhexol, 5 mg/ml; Leiras, Turku, Finland). The lumbar puncture was accomplished with a 27-gauge Quincke needle on the first attempt. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was clear, 3.5 ml hyperbaric bupivacaine, 0.5%, (Marcain Tung; Astra, Sodertalje, Sweden) was injected, and satisfactory spinal block was achieved up to the T9 dermatome. The procedure was uneventful. Postoperatively, the patient remained stable and was transferred to the ward after a 4-h follow-up in the recovery room.Sixteen hours after the surgery, the patient complained of severe headache and nausea and vomited three times. He received 6 mg intramuscular oxycodone (6-deoxy-7,8-dehydro-14-hydroxy-3-O-methyl-6-oxomorrphine) and 100 mg intravenous ketoprofen for pain relief. The headache continued and confusion was noted. Computed tomography of the head was performed 20 h after the surgery and results were reported as normal. The patient was transferred to the recovery room for epidural blood patch for postspinal headache. However, the possibility of meningitis was considered and a lumbar puncture was performed instead, now 24 h after the surgery. The CSF was turbid, diagnosis of meningitis was made, and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. Intravenous dexamethasone and intravenous broad-spectrum cephalosporin (ceftriaxone) was started. Laboratory investigations revealed a blood leukocytosis of 23.3 x 109/1and the serum concentration of C-reactive protein was less than 10 mg/l. Analysis of CSF indicated an erythrocyte count of 14.4 x 109(95% polymorphs), a protein concentration of 9.2 g/l (normal range 0.15-0.5 g/l) and a glucose concentration of 2.1 mM (normal range 2.2-4.2 mM). Gram-positive cocci were seen by Gram staining and in bacterial culture S. salivarius was found.On the fourth postoperative day the patient was transferred to an ordinary ward in good condition with slight headache. The patient was discharged home on the thirteenth postoperative day with no residual neurologic deficit.Bacterial meningitis after spinal anesthesia is very rare. There are some reported cases of meningitis after obstetric anesthesia. [1-4]In most of these cases, however, no bacteria were seen on Gram stain of CSF, and cultures were negative. Bouhemad et al. [5]reported a case of meningitis after combined spinal-epidural analgesia for labor, in which the culture of CSF yielded S. salivarius and also a Gram stain of the CSF showed gram-positive diplococci.Blackmore et al. [6]reported a case of S. mitis bacteremia and meningitis after spinal anesthesia in a 76-yr-old man with congestive cardiac failure. Blood culture was positive, but CSF culture was negative. Schneeberger et al. [7]reported four cases of meningitis after spinal anesthesia, but only one was positive in Gram stain and bacterial culture. Recently, Veringa et al. [8]reported a case of iatrogenic meningitis after lumbar puncture caused by S. salivarius. He identified the source of infection by isolating S. salivarius from a throat swab taken from the neurologist. This bacterium was shown to be identical with that of the patient's isolate by fatty acid profile analysis and PCR fingerprinting.Bacterial meningitis after spinal anesthesia can be caused by three possible mechanisms: hematogenous spread, equipment and anesthetic drug contamination, and break in the sterile technique. The source of the bacteria in our patient remained unclear. S. salivarius is a commensal of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract, and oral cavity and paranasal sinuses. It is unlikely that surgery resulted in bacteremia. Even though an aseptic procedure was carefully followed, it is obvious, that the bacterium was introduced to the spinal space during the spinal puncture.Meningitis is a serious complication and its early diagnosis and effective treatment is essential. Meningitis should always be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in patients suspected of having postspinal headache. A thorough knowledge and practice of aseptic techniques is crucial in performing spinal and extradural anesthesia.