Primary meningitis caused by Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium necrophorum.

A fatal case of meningitis due to Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium necrophorum is reported. This appears to be the first case in which meningitis due to these organisms was not secondary to a disease elsewhere in the body. The organisms are difficult to culture and strict anaerobic methods should be used whenever they are suspected. Intravenous metronidazole is probably the antibiotic of choice.