Group B streptococcus meningitis complicated by periodic lateralising epileptiform discharges in an elderly patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus or GBS) is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in infants, but is rarely the cause in adults. Across all non-pregnant adults it comprises 7% of bacterial meningitis cases, with a mortality rate of 56% in the elderly. Therefore, while rare, GBS should be a part of a patient’s differential when initiating antibiotics in adults with chronic illnesses. We report a 78-year-old diabetic female admitted to the hospital with suspected meningitis. Lumbar puncture revealed grossly purulent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and she was started on antibiotics for empiric treatment of expected Streptococcus pneumoniae. Thirty-one hours post-sampling, the CSF culture results returned positive for beta haemolytic GBS and treatment was altered accordingly. The case was complicated by concomitant periodic lateralising epileptiform discharges which were treated simultaneously. After 14 days of hospitalisation, the patient was discharged to a skilled nursing facility for further recovery.