Community-acquired Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis in adults: report of one case with a subacute course and deafness, and literature review.

Introduction: An adult with community-acquired Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis presented with a subacute course, deafness, and a predominantly lymphocytic CSF cell count.
Methods: Eighteen reported cases of C. canimorsus meningitis in adults were analyzed.
Results: In about half the cases, CSF contained less than 1,000 leukocytes/microL or lymphocyte percentages 30%. These figures differ from those usually seen in meningitis caused by the classic meningeal pathogens.
Conclusions: C. canimorsus should be included among the causes of sporadic lymphocytic meningitis in adults, in particular if the presentation involves deafness.