Meningitis caused by Candida species: an emerging problem in neurosurgical patients

Clin Infect Dis. 1995 Aug;21(2):323-7. doi: 10.1093/clinids/21.2.323.

Abstract

Three cases of candida meningitis were encountered in a 3-year period in our hospital; all occurred in neurosurgical patients. We describe these three cases and review the 15 cases of neurosurgery-related candida meningitis previously reported in the English-language literature. Data regarding these 18 patients formed the basis for our review. Most patients with candida meningitis had recently received antibacterial agents, and it is notable that 50% of patients suffered from antecedent bacterial meningitis. The CSF analysis revealed neutrophilic pleocytosis that was indistinguishable from that of bacterial meningitis. The overall mortality was 11%. Administration of amphotericin B combined with flucytosine appeared to be the best therapeutic approach for candida meningitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain / surgery
  • Candidiasis / drug therapy
  • Candidiasis / microbiology*
  • Candidiasis / mortality
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Flucytosine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / etiology
  • Meningitis, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Fungal / microbiology*
  • Meningitis, Fungal / mortality
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B
  • Flucytosine