[Meningitis caused by Oerskovia xanthineolytica].

Oerskovia species are Nocardia-like bacteria that have been only and rarely associated with human infections. In this report, a meningitis case caused by Oerskovia xanthineolytica was presented. A 44 years old male patient who had experienced ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (V-P shunt) due to hydrocephaly, developed meningitis. O. xanthineolytica was isolated from three of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and V-P shunt cultures. Identification of the isolate was performed by Phoenix SystemTM (NMIC/ID-5 panel, Becton Dickson, Sparks, MD, USA). Empirical vancomycin (2x1 g/day iv) plus rifampin (1x600 mg/day po) therapy has failured. Since CSF cultures were still positive in the 22nd day of therapy, the shunt was removed and continuation of the same antimicrobial treatment for 42 days resulted in complete cure.