Rehabilitation of Hearing Loss in Acute Bacterial Meningitis

In this article, a patient in whom cochlear implant was administered following hearing loss associated with acute bacterial meningitis is presented. The 57-year-old male patient presented due to fever, ear pain and hearing loss for the past three days. On physical examination, the patient was conscious, had a moderate general condition, and fever of 37.7°C. There was total hearing loss and aphasia. Neck stiffness was positive during neurological examination. During non-stained microscopic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid, 1900 cells/mm3 (89% PMNL, 11% lymphocyte) were detected. During gram staining, gram-positive diplococcus was seen. Ceftriaxone was started with the diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis. On day 2 of the treatment, his fever decreased, but hearing loss and speech and balance disorder continued. On day 4 of the treatment, vancomycin was added due to newly developed fever. Response to fever was achieved on day 2 of the combination treatment. During audiological examination of the patient with ongoing hearing loss, very severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was detected. 1 mg/kg prednisolone was started for the patien,t and cochlear implant was planned by the otorhinolaryngology department. Cochlear implant was performed as the patient’s complaint did not regress after one month of prednisolone treatment. Monitoring of the patient is ongoing. In conclusion, hearing loss developing in acute bacterial meningitis should be detected promptly, and rehabilitated as required.