Invasive Sinusitis With Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and Fusobacterium necrophorum Complicated by Subdural Empyema in an Immunocompetent Adolescent Patient

We are reporting a very rare case of an invasive infection with Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and Fusobacterium necrophorum that resulted in meningitis, cerebral edema, and subdural empyema secondary to upper respiratory infection (URI) and sinusitis in an immunocompetent adolescent patient. Our patient is a 17-year-old male with no significant medical history who presented to his pediatrician with a fever for three days, was diagnosed with a viral URI, and instructed to continue symptomatic care. Seven days later, the patient developed a headache, left-sided weakness, and continued to spike fever. The patient presented to the Emergency Center due to altered mental status, worsening left-sided weakness, and difficulty speaking. Head computed tomography (CT) scan showed small right-sided fluid collection with right-to-left midline shift and marked opacification of paranasal sinuses with air-fluid levels in frontal sinuses. The patient underwent an emergent craniotomy that revealed subdural empyema under high pressure and was started on vancomycin, cefepime, metronidazole, and levetiracetam. Six hours after his craniotomy, the patient developed fixed dilatation of his right-side pupil and a head CT scan showed developing ischemic changes and increased in his midline shift which prompted to emergent right decompressive craniectomy. The following day of his surgery, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed large acute infarctions of the right hemisphere, edema, and subfalcine herniation. Two brain death exams - 12 hours apart - were performed in which criteria for brain death were met. The patient’s subdural empyema culture grew Fusobacterium necrophorum and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum.