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Iatrogenic bacterial meningitis: an unmasked threat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2015

Robert Barnwell  and
Vincent Ball
Robert Barnwell*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA
Vincent Ball
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA
*
724 S. Grant Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98405; [email protected].

Abstract

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Iatrogenic bacterial meningitis (IBM) is a rare but serious complication of neuraxial procedures, such as spinal and epidural anesthesia or lumbar puncture. We report a case of a 46-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with bacterial meningitis after spinal anesthesia. We reviewthe existing literature outlining the pathogenesis, vector hypothesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention as they relate to IBM. We highlight the role of the emergency physician in the rapid diagnosis of this disease, and underscore the need for sterile technique when performing lumbar punctures.

Keywords

anesthesiabacterial meningitisepiduraliatrogeniclumbar puncturespinal
Type
Case Report • Rapport de cas
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , July 2012 , pp. 263 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2012

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