STENOTROPHOMONAS-MALTOPHILIA MENINGITIS - REPORT OF 2 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The author report two cases of meningitis caused by Stenotrophomonas m altophilia in cancer patients following placement of an Ommaya reservo ir for treatment of meningeal carcinomatosis. In addition, they review eight other cases of S. maltophilia that have been reported to dart. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia meningitis is often associated with neuro surgical procedures; however, spontaneous infection may also occur, ma inly in neonates. The disease's clinical presentation is similar to th at of other forms of meningitis caused by Grain-negative bacilli. The overall mortality rate of this disease is 20% and is limited to neonat es with spontaneous meningitis in whom effective antibiotic therapy is delayed. Meningitis caused caused by S. maltophilia in the modern era should be considered immunocompromised hosts with significant central nervous system disease who have undergone neurosurgical procedures an d who do not readily respond to broad-spectrum antimicrobial coverage.