Resumen

VIDAL ROSELL, Danais; FERNANDEZ FERRER, María de los Ángeles  y  ALFONSO SABATIER, Carlos. Bacterial meningitis caused by Lactococcus lactis cremoris. Rev Cubana Med Trop [online]. 2008, vol.60, n.3. ISSN 0375-0760.

BACKGROUND: Lactococcus lactis cremoris is a bacteria from Streptococcaceae family that may usually be isolated as part of transient or residing microbiota in the human gastrointestinal tract. It is considered essential element in the food industry where it is used as milk fermenter to obtain byproducts such as cheese, yoghurt, butter and others. OBJECTIVES: this is the first report of an adult patient with bacterial meningitis by L. lactis, without a previous history of immunosuppresion. METHODS: the evolution of a 73 years-old female patient, who came to the Emergency Department with a very acute clinical picture of behavioural disorders like irritability, immediately evolving into obnulation condition and lack of proper orientation. The conventional identification techniques together with the antimicrobial sensitivity studies allowed making the microbiological diagnosis. RESULTS: bacterial meningitis caused by L. lactis was diagnosed. This bacterium is linked to infectious processes mainly in pediatric and inmmunosuppresed patients. CONCLUSIONS: the mode of transmission is indirect and orally. The primary focus of infection from which the virus disseminated inside the body was not found. It was considered then that it occurred according to the anatomical location of the sites where sepsis signs were found. According to the data provided by the patient´s medical history, not a single antecedent of compromised immunity was found before appearing the above-mentioned clinical picture.

Palabras clave : Lactococcus lactis cremoris; bacterial meningitis.