Recurrent bacterial meningitis (RBM), particularly when caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, warrants an aggressive and thorough evaluation to exclude transdural communication. We present an unusual case of RBM as a late manifestation of a traumatic head injury sustained 10 years prior and describe presentation, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment options for RBM. Case ReportA middle-aged woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a prior history of S. pneumoniae meningitis 1 year earlier, presented to an outside hospital with complaints of fever, headache, and change in mental status. Materials for basic laboratory tests and blood cultures were drawn in the Emergency Department; these showed diabetic ketoacidosis. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head was negative and a lumbar puncture (LP) was attempted, but was unsuccessful. The patient was started on intravenous insulin drip, vancomycin, and ceftriaxone and was transported to our facility via Life-Flight. She also developed acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation.After arrival, the patient had a normal repeat CT scan of her head and a successful LP. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed 9064 white blood cells (WBCs)/mm 3 with 77% neutrophils and 9% lymphocytes, protein concentration of 275 mg/dL, and glucose of 93 mg/dL. CSF culture and Gram stain were negative, while 1 blood culture drawn at the outside hospital grew penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (MIC 2 lg/ mL). WBC count was 9660/mm 3 with 45% band forms. Bacterial meningitis was confirmed and the patient was continued on intravenous antibiotics and insulin drip. Additional laboratory studies revealed normal complement levels and a negative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and HIV 2 antibody screen. The patient was extubated in 48 hours. and was treated with a total of 2 weeks of ceftriaxone and vancomycin for penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae meningitis.The patient had an uneventful full recovery and was discharged from the hospital with neurosurgery follow-up. The neurosurgeon ordered a CT scan of the facial bones, which revealed an irregular calcification in the right frontal sinus adjacent to the cribriform plate and thinning of the posterior wall of the sinus. Upon requestioning at a subsequent neurosurgical appointment, the patient recalled being an unrestrained passenger and striking her head against the windshield in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) approximately 10 years ago. Ever since the MVA, she noticed intermittent postnasal discharge while recumbent. However, she never sought a medical opinion and denied complaints of anterior rhinorrhea.A CT cisternography confirmed the presence of CSF leakage with contrast accumulation via a defect in the right paramedian cribriform plate. Contrast opacification was seen in the fovea ethmoidalis extending into the right frontal sinus (Figure 1). The patient subsequently underwent transnasal endoscopic CSF leak repair (Figure 2). The postoperative cisternogram did not reveal the transdural communication. However a follow...

Ongoing ability to monitor the well-being of the chief residents, who absorb a significant burden of the residency stress & Chief residents expressed appreciation for the quick proactive approach to handling the residency program during the crisis responseThe applicability of the scrum model could be nearly universal in training programs experiencing all manner of crises. The expense to the residency and institution was minimal, as the time spent in the scrums amounted to 10 minutes per day and was estimated to save time in individual meetings that would have occurred throughout the day otherwise.