Long-term outcome of acute central nervous system infection in children

Importance:Central nervous system infection is a severe illness in children.Little is known about the long-term outcome in children with central nervous system infection of various etiologies.Objective:The aims of this study were to investigate the long-term outcomes of childhood acute central nervous system infection and to examine possible prognostic factors.Methods:Of 172 children who were treated for acute central nervous system infection from January 2009 through December 2009,139 were eligible for follow-up evaluations.A structured interview was conducted with the parents 3.8-4.7 years after hospital discharge.The global outcome was determined in all patients using the Pediatric Version of the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended.Clinical features of the acute episode were retrieved from medical records.Results:The outcome was favorable in 109 of 139 patients (78%),38 (27%) were mildly impaired,six (4%) were moderately impaired,14 (10%) were severely impaired and two (1%) were in a vegetative state.There were eight deaths.The most frequent symptoms were difficulty concentrating (16%),epilepsy (12%),limb paralysis (12%),memory impairment (10%),speech disorders (9%),irritability (9%).Significant risk factors for epilepsy included the presence of recurrent seizures or status epilepticus,the existence of pure spikes in the electroencephalogram,brain parenchyma abnormalities on neuroimaging and herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE).A multivariate analysis identified three factors that were independently associated with poor outcome:coma,brain parenchyma abnormalities on neuroimaging and HSVE.Interpretation:Most children with acute central nervous system infection experienced a favorable outcome 3.8-4.7 years after discharge from the hospital.Minor to severe disability persists in a high proportion of cases.Coma,brain parenchymal abnormalities on neuroimaging and HSVE may predict poor long-term outcome.

Progress in the Treatment of Fungal Infections of the Central Nervous System

HThe incidence of fungal infections of the central nervous system(CNS) has gradually increased in recent years. Intracranial fungal infection can be classified as diffuse and focal infections. The clinical manifestations of these infections include fever and cranial pressure caused by meningitis or meningoencephalitis, and focal neurological defects caused by lesions in the intracranial space. Diagnosing fungal infections of the CNS requires the comprehensive analysis of the patient's medical history, epidemiology, underlying disease, clinical manifestation, imaging manifestations, and various laboratory test results. The identification of fungal bodies or structures in brain tissue or cerebrospinal fluid specimens is the golden standard of diagnosis. The principles for the treatment of the fungal infections of the CNS are the effective control of pathogenic risk factors, use of effective antifungal drugs, and the active implementation of surgical intervention for fungal abscesses and granuloma. In the meantime, new diagnoses and treatments should be actively explored to improve the prognosis of patients.

Pathogen Analysis of Central Nervous System Infections in a Chinese Teaching Hospital from 2012-2018: A Laboratory-based Retrospective Study

Central nervous system (CNS) infections are associated with high mortality rates. The clinical presentation of many CNS infections by different pathogens is difficult to distinguish, but the definite diagnosis of the etiology is critical for effective therapy and prognosis. The aim of this study was to explore the etiology of CNS infections with definite diagnoses based on data from a clinical microbiology laboratory in Tongji Hospital, a teaching hospital in China, obtained over a six-year period. We conducted a retrospective study on all cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens submitted to our clinical microbiology laboratory from September, 2012 to December, 2018. The etiology of CNS infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and common bacteria was analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted on all isolates. The results showed that 1972 cases of CNS infections were identified from 18 300 CSF specimens. Common bacterial meningitis (BM), cryptococcal meningitis (CM) and tuberculous meningitis (TM) accounted for 86.3%(677/785), 9.4%(74/785) and 4.3%(34/785) respectively of cases over the six-year period. BM was the most common among the different age groups, followed by CM. Of the TM cases, 44.1%(15/34) were distributed within the age group of 15-34 years, whereas for CM cases, 52.7%(39/74) occurred within the 35-54-year age group, and the age distribution of BM cases was fairly even. Among the bacterial pathogens isolated, Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common, accounting for 12.5%(98/785), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (ABA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SAU), accounting for 11.8%(93/785) and 7.6%(60/785) respectively. The resistance rates to antibiotics were >75%, with the exception of the resistance rate of ABA to tegafycline, which was <3%. More than 60% of SAU strains displayed resistance to penicillin, oxacillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefazolin, cefuroxime, gentamycin, tobramycin, erythromycin and levofloxacin, whereas more than 90% of SAU strains showed susceptibility to trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole, tegafycline, vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid. For C. neoformans, the susceptibility rates to amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, fluconazol and voriconazole were >95%. Analysis of samples from patients with CNS infection in a clinical microbiology laboratory at a teaching hospital in China over a six-year period indicated that the most common etiological agents were the bacteria ABA and SAU. The antibiotic resistance levels of ABA were found to be high and of concern, whereas isolates of C. neoformans were found to be sensitive to antifungal antibiotics.

MRI in central nervous system infections: A simplified patterned approach

Recognition and characterization of central nervous system infections poses a formidable challenge to the neuro-radiologist.Imaging plays a vital role,the lesions typically being relatively inaccessible to tisue sampling.The results of an accurate diagnosis are endlessly re-warding,given the availability of excellent pharmaco-logical regimen.The availability of numerous magnetic resonance(MR)sequences which provide functional and molecular information is a powerful tool in the hands of the radiologist.However,the plethora of se-quences and the possibilities on each sequence is also intimidating,and often confusing as well as time con-suming.While a large number of reviews have already described in detail the possible imaging findings in each infection,we intend to classify infections based on their imaging characteristics.In this review we describe an algorithm for first classifying the imaging findings into patterns based on basic MR sequences(T1,T2 and enhancement pattern with Gadolinium),and then sub-classify them based on more advanced molecular and functional sequences(Diffusion,Perfusion,Susceptibili-ty imaging,MR Spectroscopy).This patterned approachis intended as a guide to radiologists in-training and in-practice for quickly narrowing their list of differentials when faced with a clinical challenge.The entire content of the article has also been summarised in the form of flow-charts for the purpose of quick reference.

Analysis of Present Situation and Influencing Factors of Coping Methods by Parents of Children with Central Nervous System Tumors

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid tumors among children. Due to the severity of the tumors and the complexity of therapeutic regimes, it is very important to examine whether parents of the children with CNS tumors have positive coping methods against the disease. This study aims to analyze the coping methods of the parents and the factors influencing the methods. Methods: A total of 108 parents of brain cancer children admitted from January 2019 to September 2020 were selected as subjects. After collecting the general information of the parents, they were studied using the Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP, Chinese version). Additionally, their coping pattern and the influencing factors were analyzed. Results: The average scores of the three subscales of the CHIP were (4.25 ± 0.939), (3.11 ± 1.205) and (3.60 ± 1.187), respectively. Univariate analysis showed that parents’ education, medical payment methods, places of residence and economic concerns were the main factors influencing the coping methods (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Healthcare staff should fully evaluate the coping methods adopted by the parents having children with CNS tumors, take targeted nursing measures accordingly, and assist the parents in seeking social support and learning disease-related knowledge. In addition, public education on disease is equally important.

Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis of infectious diseases of the central nervous system after empirical treatment

BACKGROUND The diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)in central nervous system(CNS)infectious diseases after empirical treatment has not been reported.AIM To investigate the diagnostic value of mNGS of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)in the empirically treated CNS infectious diseases.METHODS A total of 262 CSF samples from patients with suspected CNS infections were collected between August 2020 and December 2021.Both mNGS and conventional methods were used for testing.The conventional methods included microbial culture,smear,polymerase chain reaction,etc.RESULTS Among 262 suspected cases,183 cases(69.84%)were diagnosed as CNS infection,including 86 cases of virus infection(47.00%),70 cases of bacterial infection(38.25%)and 27 cases of fungal infection(14.76%).The sensitivity and specificity of mNGS were 65.6%(95%CI:58.2%-72.3%)and 89.6%(95%CI:79.1%-95.3%),respectively.The PPV of mNGS was 94.5%(95%CI:88.6%-97.6%),and the NPV was 48.8%(95%CI:39.7%–57.9%).The pathogen detective sensitivity and accuracy of mNGS were higher than those of conventional methods(Sensitivity:65.6%vs 37.2%;P<0.001;Accuracy:72.0%vs 50%,P<0.001).The results showed that compared with conventional methods,mNGS technology was a more sensitive method for the diagnosis of CNS infection after empirical treatment.CONCLUSION mNGS can be a better method applied in the diagnosis of CNS infection after empirical treatment.

Innate host responses to West Nile virus: Implications for central nervous system immunopathology

West Nile virus(WNV) is an emerging neurotropic flavivirus that has recently spread to America and Southern Europe via an enzootic/epizootic bird-mosquito-bird transmission cycle. The virus can occasionally infect humans through mosquito bites, and man-to-man transmission has also been reported via infected blood or organ donation. In the human host, WNV causes asymptomatic infection in about 70%-80% of cases, while < 1% of clinical cases progress to severe neuroinvasive disease; long-term neurological sequelae are common in more than 50% of these severe cases. Thepathogenesis of the neuroinvasive form of WNV infection remains incompletely understood, and risk factors for developing severe clinical illness are largely unknown. The innate immune response plays a major role in the control of WNV replication, which is supported by the fact that the virus has developed numerous mechanisms to escape the control of antiviral interferons. However, exaggerated inflammatory responses lead to pathology, mainly involving the central nervous system. This brief review presents the salient features of innate host responses, WNV immunoevasion strategies, and WNV-induced immunopathology.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Central Nervous System Lesions in HIV/AIDS: About 35 Cases in Libreville (Gabon)

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with an increasing prevalence of related cognitive impairments. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the early detection of lesions. This work aimed to describe the MRI aspects of different brain lesions occurred in HIV positive patients in our practice. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that took place from June 2014 to July 2016 in the medical imaging department of the EL RAPHA private Polyclinic in Libreville, Gabon. It included all patients referred for imaging for the exploration of a Central Nervous System (CNS) lesions at MRI, based on clinical and/or paraclinical arguments. Results: Among the 39 patients included, 19 (48.7%) had a previous brain CT scan, 11 of which were normal (28.2%). Thirty-five (89.74%) patients had a pathological MRI. The main etiologies found were toxoplasmosis (37.14%), tuberculosis (17.14%), cerebral atrophy (17.14%) and HIV encephalitis (14.28%). Among the eleven patients with a normal Computer Tomography scan, the MRI found 7 abnormalities including 1 case of toxoplasmosis, 3 cases of HIV encephalitis and 3 cases of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). Conclusion: MRI played an important role in the diagnosis of CNS disorders in HIV-infected individuals. It can be used to differentiate and characterize various brain lesions. Improving its accessibility in sub-Saharan Africa should contribute to better care for people living with HIV.

Viral Acute Respiratory Infections in Central African Republic Children: Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are recognized as an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization among children in developing countries. Objectives: To identify the respiratory viruses circulating in Central African children before the SARS-COV2 pandemic and to assess the clinical manifestations. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, multicenter study, run from March 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. Children aged 28 days to 15 year-old, with respiratory symptoms ≤10 days had been included. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken and sent to the Institute Pasteur in Bangui (WHO National Referral Center for influenza). Virus research was done by cell and molecular culture techniques. Data were recorded and processed with Access 2019 software, then analyzed with STATA version 14 software. Chi-square test and ANOVA test were used to compare proportions at the p 0.05 threshold. Results: Out of 659 children included during the study period, viruses were identified in 231 children, for an overall positivity rate of 35.05% (231/659). Rhinoviruses (RV) and influenza viruses were found in 66.23% and 16.88% respectively. Virus-virus co-infections were found in 10 (10/231) children (4.32%). Children under 5 years of age were more represented (78.60%). The main reasons for consultation were: fever (96.20%), cough (95.45%), runny nose (78.5%), and breathing difficulty (30.50%). ILI (Influenza-Like Illness) was found in 71.02% versus 28.98% of SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection). There was a statistically significant association between age 5 years and severity of acute respiratory infection (p = 0.001). The outcome was known for the 122 children at the CHUPB site with a mortality rate of 17.21% (n = 21). Conclusion: Viral ARI is common in children in Central African Republic. Care givers should think about it in order to reduce the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics.

Neurological complications of hematopoietic cell transplantation in children and adults

Hematopoietic cell transplantation（HCT） is widely performed for neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. HCT involves intravenous infusion of hematopoietic progenitor cells from human leukocyte antigen（HLA）-matched donor（allogeneic） or from the patient（autologous）. Before HCT, the patient is prepared with high dose chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to destroy residual malignant cells and to reduce immunologic resistance. After HCT, chemotherapy is used to prevent graft rejection and graft versus host disease（Gv HD）. Neurological complications are related to the type of HCT, underlying disease, toxicity of the conditioning regimens, immunosuppression caused by conditioning regimens, vascular complications generated by thrombocytopenia and/or coagulopathy, Gv HD and inappropriate immune response. In this review, neurological complications are presented according to time of onset after HCT：（1） early complications（in the first month）-related to harvesting of stem cells, during conditioning（drug toxicity, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome）, related to pancytopenia,（2） intermediate phase complications（second to sixth month）-central nervous system infections caused by prolonged neutropenia and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy due to JC virus,（3） late phase complications（after sixth month）-neurological complications of Gv HD, second neoplasms and relapses of the original disease.

The relationship between serum levels of uric acid and prognosis of infection in critically ill patients

Serum uric acid level is associated with some chronic diseases and prognosis of severe infection. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum uric acid （SUA） and prognosis of infection in critically ill patients. The data from 471 patients with infection admitted from January 2003 to April 2010 were analyzed retrospectively at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China. The data of SUA, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen （BUN） and other relevant examinations within 24 hours after admission were recorded and the levels of SUA in those patients were described, then Student＇s t test was used to evaluate the relationship between SUA and pre-existing disorders. Different levels of SUA were graded for further analysis. The Chi-square test was used to examine the difference in the prognosis of infection. The mean initial level of SUA within 24 hours after admission was 0.232±0.131 mmol/L and the median was 0.199 mmol/L. Remarkable variations in the initial levels of SUA were observed in patients with pre-existing hypertension （t=-3.084, P=0.002）, diabetes mellitus （t=-2.487, P=0.013）, cerebral infarction （t=-3.061, P=0.002）, renal insufficiency （t=-4.547, P〈0.001）, central nervous system infection （t=5.096, P〈0.001） and trauma （t=2.875, P=0.004）. SUAwas linearly correlated with serum creatinine and BUN （F=159.470 and 165.059, respectively, P〈0.001）. No statistical correlation was found between the initial levels of SUA and prognosis of infection （X^2=60.892, P=0.100）. The current study found no direct correlation between the initial levels of SUA after admission and prognosis of infection in critically ill patients.

Fibroblasts:New players in the central nervous system?

Fibroblasts are typically described as cells that produce extracellular matrix,contribute to the formation of connective tissue,and maintain the structural framework of tissues.Fibroblasts are the first cell type to be transdifferentiated into inducible pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs),demonstrating their versatility and reprogrammability.Currently,there is relatively extensive characterization of the anatomical,molecular,and functional diversity of fibroblasts in different peripheral organs and tissues.With recent advances in single cell RNA sequencing,heterogeneity and diversity of fibroblasts in the central nervous system(CNS)have also begun to emerge.Based on their distinct anatomical locations in the meninges,perivascular space,and choroid plexus,as well as their molecular diversity,important roles for fibroblasts in the CNS have been proposed.Here,we draw inspirations from what is known about fibroblasts in peripheral tissues,in combination with their currently identified CNS locations and molecular characterizations,to propose potential functions of CNS fibroblasts in health and disease.Future studies,using a combination of technologies,will be needed to determine the bona fide in vivo functions of fibroblasts in the CNS.

Clinical infections in neurosurgical oncology:An overview

Central nervous system(CNS)infections are urgent conditions with high morbidity and mortality.Bacteria,viruses,parasites or fungi can cause them.Intracranial infections after craniotomies are an important complication of treatment,especially in oncological patients that are already immunologically compromised due to the disease and treatment.The consequence of CNS infections in oncological patients includes longer treatment with antibiotics,additional surgical procedures,higher treatment costs and poorer treatment outcomes.Additionally,the management of primary pathology may be prolonged or postponed as a result of the active infection.By introducing new and improved protocols,tightening controls on their implementation,constantly educating the entire team involved in patient treatment and educating both patients and relatives,the incidence of infections can be reduced effectively.

Prevotella oris-caused meningitis and spinal canal infection:A case report

BACKGROUND Prevotella oris-induced meningitis and Prevotella oris-induced meningitis concomitant with spinal canal infection are extremely rare.To the best of our knowledge,only 1 case of Prevotella oris-induced central system infection has been reported.This is the second report on meningitis combined with spinal canal infection due to Prevotella oris.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a 9-year-old boy suffering from meningitis and spinal canal infection.The patient presented to the neurosurgery department with lumbosacral pain for 1 mo and headache and vomiting for 1 d.He had been treated with cephalosporin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for fever,otalgia and pharyngalgia in a local hospital 2 mo prior to this admission.During hospitalization,magnetic resonance imaging suggested meningitis and L3-S1 lumbosacral dural sac infection.The cerebrospinal fluid and blood cultures were negative,but the cerebrospinal fluid specimen indicated the presence of Prevotella oris by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.Previous cases of Prevotella oris infection were retrieved from PubMed to characterize the clinicopathological features and identify the prognostic factors and related antimicrobial treatment of infection due to Prevotella oris.CONCLUSION This report shed light on the characteristics of Prevotella oris infection and highlighted the role of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection.

Endogenous Endophthalmitis as a Triggering Factor for Fatal Bacterial Meningitis Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae: A Case Report

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a rare condition with a poor long-term visual prognosis and significant mortality, often associated with the hematogenous spread of intravitreal infections and subsequent disruption of the blood-ocular barrier. Its anatomical proximity to the central nervous system (CNS) poses a high risk of infection dissemination, although cases documented in the literature are rare, and endogenous endophthalmitis is typically described as secondary to neuroinfections. We report the case of an 82-year-old female patient with a history of hypertension who presented with fever, decreased visual acuity, severe headache, chemosis, and conjunctival injection. Endogenous endophthalmitis was diagnosed, and antimicrobial treatment was initiated alongside surgical intervention by the ophthalmology service. However, the patient’s condition worsened neurologically, and Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Despite intensive medical treatment, the patient’s clinical course was poor, leading to death.

Immunobiology of congenital cytomegalovirus infection of the central nervous system--the murine cytomegalovirus model

Congenital human cytomegalovirus infection is a leading infectious cause of long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae, including mental retardation and hearing defects. Strict species specificity of cytomegaloviruses has restricted the scope of studies of cytomegalovirus infection in animal models. To investigate the pathogenesis of congenital human cytomegalovirus infection, we developed a mouse cytomegalovirus model that recapitulates the major characteristics of central nervous system infection in human infants, including the route of neuroinvasion and neuropathological findings. Following intraperitoneal inoculation of newborn animals with mouse cytomegalovirus, the virus disseminates to the central nervous system during high-level viremia and replicates in the brain parenchyma, resulting in a focal but widespread, non-necrotizing encephalitis. Central nervous system infection is coupled with the recruitment of resident and peripheral immune cells as well as the expression of a large number of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although infiltration of cellular constituents of the innate immune response characterizes the early immune response in the central nervous system, resolution of productive infection requires virus-specific CD8＋ T cells. Perinatal mouse cytomegalovirus infection results in profoundly altered postnatal development of the mouse central nervous system and long-term motor and sensory disabilities. Based on an enhanced understanding of the pathogenesis of this infection, prospects for novel intervention strategies aimed to improve the outcome of congenital human cytomegalovirus infection are proposed.

Current Treatment for Central Nervous System Involvement in Children with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis （HLH） is a severe life-threatening clinical syndrome with hyperinflammation rather than an isolated disease. It is classified as primary HLH and secondary HLH. Primary HLH is associated with HLH-related gene mutations, whereas secondary HLH occurs after severe infections, tumors, connective tissue diseases, etc.[1] Regardless of primary or secondary HLH, 30-73% of patients have central nervous system （CNS） involvement,[2] Among adults with HLH in China, 38.4% of patients have neurological symptoms at the onset, and there are up to 89.6% with neurological symptoms during the entire course of the disease.[3] However, it has not been clearly reported about the CNS involvement in children with HLH.

Seizures and epilepsy secondary to viral infection in the central nervous system

Viral infection in the central nervous system(CNS)is a common cause of seizures and epilepsy.Acute symptomatic seizures can occur in the context of almost all types of acute CNS viral infection.However,late unprovoked seizures and epilepsy may not be frequent after viral infection of the CNS.The incidence of seizures and epilepsy after CNS viral infection is mainly dependent on the brain region of infection.It remains to be determined whether treatment of CNS viral infection using antiepileptic drugs(AEDs)can prevent seizures and subsequent epilepsy in patients,particularly with regard to the timing,drug choice and dosage,and duration of AEDs.The postoperative outcome of seizures in patients with intractable epilepsy caused by viral encephalitis primarily depends on the epileptogenic zone.In addition,neuroinflammation is known to be widely involved in the generation of seizures during CNS viral infection,and the effects of anti-inflammatory therapies in preventing seizures and epilepsy secondary to CNS viral infection require further studies.In this review,we discuss the incidence,mechanisms,clinical management and prognosis of seizures and epilepsy secondary to CNS viral infection,and summarize common CNS viral infections that cause seizures and epilepsy.

Low antioxidant status of patients with central nervous system infections

Aim:The pathogenesis of central nervous system infections(CNSI)has not been fully understood;some studies indicated that reactive oxygen species may induce brain damage.The aim of our study was to investigate serum antioxidant status in patients with CNSI.Methods:The serum levels of uric acid(UA),bilirubin and albumin of 548 individuals were enrolled in our study,comprising of 114 healthy controls(HC)and 434 patients with five different kinds of CNSI,which including viral meningitis and/or meningoencephalitis,cysticercosis of brain,tuberculous meningitis and/or meningoencephalitis,cryptococcus meningitis and/or meningoencephalitis,and bacterial meningitis and/or meningoencephalitis.Results:The data suggested that there were reducing levels of oxidation state(serum UA,bilirubin and albumin)in CNSI patients when compared with HC.Likewise,similar results were observed when cohorts were divided into male and female subgroups.Conclusion:The authors demonstrated that serum antioxidant status in patients with CNSI was lower;the reason may be due to exhaustion of antioxidant capacity.Therefore,enhancing antioxidant power and keeping oxidative stress and antioxidants in balance may be beneficial to the patients with CNSI.

Rhombencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes with hydrocephalus and intracranial hemorrhage:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Listeria monocytogenes(L. monocytogenes), a Gram-positive facultatively intracellular bacterium, is the causative agent of human listeriosis. Listeria infection is usually found in immunocompromised patients, including elderly people, pregnant women, and newborns, whereas it is rare in healthy people. L.monocytogenes may cause meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and some very rare and severe complications, such as hydrocephalus and intracranial hemorrhage,which cause high mortality and morbidity worldwide. Up to now, reports on hydrocephalus and intracranial hemorrhage due to L. monocytogenes are few.CASE SUMMARY We herein report a case of rhombencephalitis caused by L. monocytogenes in a 29-year-old man. He was admitted to the hospital with a 2-d history of headache and fever. He consumed unpasteurized cooked beef two days before appearance.His medical history included type 2 diabetes mellitus, and contaminated beef intake 2 d before onset. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed Gram-positive rod infection, and blood culture was positive for L. monocytogenes. Magnetic resonance imaging findings suggested rhombencephalitis and hydrocephalus.Treatment was started empirically and then modified according to the blood culture results. Repeated CT images were suggestive of intracranial hemorrhage.Although the patient underwent aggressive external ventricular drainage, he died of a continuing deterioration of intracranial conditions.CONCLUSION Hydrocephalus, intracranial hemorrhage, and inappropriate antimicrobial treatment are the determinations of unfavorable outcomes.