Spinal anaesthesia and meningitis in former preterm infants: cause-effect?

Meningitis associated with spinal anaesthesia is a rare but well-known complication. We report on a case of fatal bacterial meningitis following spinal anaesthesia in a former preterm infant. The aetiology of this meningitis could not be established. Former preterm infants represent a high-risk population because of their susceptibility to group B streptococcal meningitis at this age as documented in a second case. Therefore we discuss whether meningitis was consequential or coincidental with spinal anaesthesia and could have been prevented by more comprehensive preoperative laboratory screening or prophylactic antibiotics.