Polymicrobial anaerobic meningitis caused by Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Slackia exigua in a patient with mastoiditis following otitis media

We have reported a case of mastoiditis which progressed to meningitis in a 16-year old male patient. CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) anaerobic culture revealed four species of isolated anaerobic bacteria. This is the first case in the literature in which a patient survived childhood polymicrobial anaerobic meningitis diagnosed by MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization - Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry). •Meningitis caused by anaerobic agents are commonly accompanied by predisposing factors.•The prognosis of anaerobic meningitis is usually grave and the mortality rate is high.•Anaerobes can be identified rapidly and reliably by using MALDI TOF MS technology.•Identification of organisms at species level and testing will be life-saving.