ESCHERICHIA-COLI MENINGITIS REVEALING A POSTERIOR-FOSSA EPIDERMOID CYST IN A 16-MONTH-OLD INFANT

Meningitis due to Escherichia coli is rare, and generally observed in very particular circumstances, such as neonatal period, anatomical ano malies or in immune-deficient patients. Case report. - A 16-month-old male infant was admitted for acute meningitis. E coli,vas detected in the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). As appropriate antibiotic treatment pr oved inefficient, a cerebral computerised tomography (CT) scan was per formed, revealing art epidermoid cyst of the posterior fossa. The cyst was resected after CSF sterilisation. Postoperative recovery was sati sfactory, Conclusion, - when an unusual bacterial species such as E co il is detected in CSF, the authors suggest consideration of a cutaneou s or ETN focus, or a congenital malformation with communication betwee n cutaneous and meningeal structures. (C) 1998 Elsevier; Paris.