[Meningitis due to streptococcus viridans].

Viridans Streptococci (VS) may cause meningitis although, in most cases, they are isolated as contaminants in CSF. However VS should not be systematically underestimated as contaminants in CSF without a suitable clinical and analytical evaluation. Meningitis as a result of VS is being diagnosed with increasing frequency, especially in new born babies. Classic predisposition factors and illnesses (traumatism, surgery and infection) have increased, one frequent pathogenic mechanism being rupture of the mucous membrane with subsequent meningitis. VS are normally sensitive to penicillin G. However VS may be resistant to penicillin (low affinity of PBP to penicillin) and cause serious infections, including meningitis. For this reason it is convenient to perform sensitivity tests on VS in vitro in isolation to determine the appropriate therapy.