Staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis in the absence of a neurosurgical device secondary to catheter-related bloodstream infection: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus epidermidis can cause nosocomial meningitis in the presence of prosthetic devices. We describe a case of Staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis in a patient with neutropenia who had no intracranial foreign body, and we review the literature on meningitis that is caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. without a neurosurgical device. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old Japanese man with acute myeloid leukemia receiving chemotherapy through a totally implantable central venous catheter developed fever and headache. The patient had a history of craniotomy for anaplastic oligodendroglioma without an indwelling neurosurgical device. The results of two blood cultures and a cerebrospinal fluid culture were positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis. Clinical improvement was observed with treatment with vancomycin and removal of the central venous catheter despite prolonged neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis in a patient with neutropenia without a neurosurgical device who was successfully treated.