Campylobacter fetus meningitis and bacteremia in a well-controlled HIV patient

Abstract

We present a case of Campylobacter fetus meningitis and bacteremia in an HIV patient. He was initially admitted due to concern for meningitis. After brief observation, the patient was discharged--once infectious etiologies had been ruled out. Soon after discharge, he was readmitted due to late culture growth demonstrating Campylobacter fetus in his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Our patient declined initially despite being placed on an appropriate, susceptibility-proven antibiotic regimen. He was later treated successfully with carbapenem therapy. This outcome is in alignment with the few previous cases of treatment failure (despite an appropriate antibiotic regimen) and supports the argument that most patients respond best to a carbapenem regimen.