Bacteroides comprise a group of anaerobic or microaerophilic, nonmotile, nonsporing, Gram-negative bacilli commonly inhabiting the human alimentary canal and the female genital tract.
Most of the cases of Bacteroides infections reported in the literature have been associated with septicemia3-6 or local abscesses of various organs. Bacteroides meningitis has not been recognized very often. It has usually occurred as a complication of a chronic otitis media or local abscess that has invaded the central nervous system (CNS) by direct extension.
In this report we have described an infant who had meningitis caused by Bacteroides. The patient received antibiotic therapy and made a complete recovery.
Report of a Case
The patient was a white male infant, 8 months old, and was first admitted to the Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH) on Nov. 26, 1961, with fever, nonproductive cough, and vomiting of 1 week's duration. Two days prior to admission to the CMH