Choroid plexitis caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex after COVID-19

Abstract

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) encompasses opportunistic pathogen with various clinical manifestations ranging from no symptoms to severe respiratory infections and septicemia. Central nervous system infections caused by BCC are rare. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first reported case of choroid plexitis caused by BCC after severe COVID-19. A 67-year-old woman who had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 presented with a mild fever and headache. Gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging showed contrast effects in the right choroid plexus and encapsulated abscess. Gram staining of cerebrospinal fluid revealed the presence of gram-negative rods. Broad-range polymerase chain reaction amplification of 16S ribosomal RNA from the cerebrospinal fluid, followed by sequence analysis, identified BCC; thus, choroid plexitis caused by BCC was diagnosed. After prolonged antimicrobial treatment with a multiantibiotic regimen, the patient recovered completely. This case highlights the importance of long-term therapy with a carefully selected multiantibiotic regimen to achieve complete recovery after BCC infection.