A Case Report and Current Literature Review of Pneumococcal Meningitis Complicated by Cortical Infarction Secondary to Infectious Cerebral Vasculitis in A Young Male

Bacterial meningitis rarely causes cerebral vasculitis and cerebral infarction. A 23-year-old male presenting with fever, headache, and neck stiffness was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis based on cerebrospinal fluid analysis and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. The patient’s clinical course was complicated by cerebral vasculitis, as evidenced by a right parietal infarction on brain MRI, resulting in a prolonged intensive care unit stay. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics (ceftriaxone and vancomycin) and corticosteroids. Targeted antibiotic therapy and timely adjunctive initiation of corticosteroids to address inflammation are critical for improving long-term outcomes.