title: Ruptured mycotic aneurysm presenting initially with bacterial meningitis.
abstract: Infections of the major vessels can result in the formation of mycotic aneurysms, which can ultimately rupture and can be associated with a high mortality rate. Mycotic aneurysms can pose a diagnostic dilemma for the clinicians and successful treatment of this condition often requires a very high index of suspicion. We report an unusual case of a 65-year-old black female who initially presented with bacterial meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae and 1 week later died from a ruptured undetected mycotic aneurysm. A similar case, in which a mycotic aneurysm initially presented with bacterial meningitis, could not be found in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center, Hartsville, South Carolina, USA. tminch7695@aol.com
authors.forename: Thomas V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Mincheff
authors.forename: Arthur W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Cooler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy