Recurrent meningitis by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a girl with cochlear implant and head trauma despite 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine

Recurrent bacterial meningitis is a very rare phenomenon in children. Skull base fractures and cochlear implant are the important predisposing factors and, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequently isolated agent. Implementation of 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13) has reduced the occurence of invasive pneumococcal diseases. Vaccination breakthrough is typically related to underlying predisposing conditions. Herein, we reported recurrent pneumococcal meningitis in a patient with a cochlear implant who experienced a head trauma after being fully vaccinated with PCV13. The patient experienced three meningitis episodes within one year. S.pneumoniae was determined on CSF culture in the first and third episodes and detected by PCR at the second episode. Neurosurgical intervention was performed after the third meningitis episode, and the patient had no recurrence problems for the following two years. To our knowledge, breakthrough S.pneumoniae serotype 1 meningitis after full PCV13 immunization has not been reported elsewhere in the literature.