Successful treatment of Bacillus cereus meningitis following allogenic stem cell transplantation

We report the case of a 19-yr-old boy, who received an allogeneic stem cell transplantation for the second relapse of Hodgkin's disease. The patient developed seizures and flaccid hemiparesis on day +10. Meningoencephalitis induced by Bacillus cereus was diagnosed. The treatment consisted of appropriate antibiotics, G-CSF and removal of the central venous line. Infection control and nearly full neurological recovery was achieved. Immunocompromised patients susceptible to B. cereus infection, indicated by the isolation of B. cereus in prior cultures, should receive antibiotic treatment covering B. cereus.