Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis: no, the dog is not always man’s best friend!

Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis are rare invasive infection with unpredictable outcomes. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Here, we describe a case with an initially falsely reassuring clinical presentation. Lumbar puncture reveals purulent and inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid, but the syndromic multiplex PCR remains negative. The challenging microbiological diagnosis resulted from a meticulous examination of the CSF and the performance of a 16S rRNA PCR followed by sequencing. A thorough medical history, including close contact with dogs and identification of immunosuppression factors, is critical for diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of clinical-biological collaboration.