title: Diagnosis and treatment of complicated tubercular meningitis.
abstract: A 41-year-old woman was seen in no acute distress with an infected ventriculoperitoneal shunt. She underwent several revisions of the shunt but was readmitted to the hospital with nausea, vomiting, and neurologic sequelae. Results of spinal fluid analysis were white blood cells 68/mm3 (25% neutrophils), glucose less than 20 mg/dl, and protein 513 mg/dl. Cerebrospinal fluid, aerobic and anaerobic, and blood cultures were negative. Three weeks later the patient suffered a seizure and was prescribed antitubercular agents for a presumed diagnosis of tubercular meningitis. One week later, chest wound culture from her first visit suggested Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which was confirmed by DNA probe; cerebrospinal fluid culture eventually grew the organism. The patient fared well once she received antituberculosis agents. The time between first contact and treatment in the hospital delayed therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Omaha, Nebraska 68178, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Destache
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Fruin
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000502:physiology; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010672:Phenytoin; D014640:Vancomycin