Pasteurella multocida meningo-encephalitis with aphasia in a young adult

We report the first case of Pasteurella multocida meningo-encephalitis with aphasia in a 28 year-old-patient. The investigations confirmed the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. But the delay in identification of the organism involved iterative changes of antibiotherapy. The evolution was finally favourable with appropriate antibiotic treatment. The epidemiologic investigation highlighted the responsibility of a patient's cat carrying the same bacterial strain. Finally we discuss the epidemiologic, clinical and therapeutic features of this unusual meningitis. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.