Community-Acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae Meningitis With Liver Abscess and Neurological Sequelae in an Immunocompetent Adult: A Case Report
Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis (KPM) is a rare but severe form of community-acquired bacterial meningitis that is often associated with high mortality and neurological sequelae.We report a 46-year-old previously healthy male who presented with acute altered mental status and high-grade fever.Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was consistent with bacterial meningitis, and cultures from the cerebrospinal fluid and blood showed Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.pneumoniae) growth.The clinical course of the patient was complicated with seizures and acute right-sided hemiplegia.Persistent fever (despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy) prompted further evaluation, which revealed a hepatic abscess.Percutaneous abscess drainage resulted in rapid clinical improvement and notable neurological recovery.This case highlights the importance of early recognition of K. pneumoniae as a potential cause of community-acquired meningitis and the need to actively search for an underlying primary source, particularly a liver abscess, when the clinical response to antibiotics is suboptimal.
Authors
- Leyla Kedir Bereka
- Sheema Thomas Parakkal
- Ghamdan Alsadeh
- Ahmed S Rahal
Institutions
- Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University (AE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2026-09-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.116236
- Primary Topic
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00