A 78-year-old man had a fever and exhibited disordered consciousness, which led to his transportation to our hospital. On arrival, he exhibited discharge from the ear. Because extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli was detected in the ear discharge and cerebrospinal fluid specimens, it was inferred to be the causal bacteria. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis indicated the same ESBL-producing E. coli pattern in the patient's ear discharge, external auditory canal granulation, cerebrospinal fluid, and stool, indicating their common molecular epidemiological origin. Although ESBL-producing E. coli is an extremely rare cause of bacterial meningitis, it should be considered as a potential causal bacteria for community-acquired meningitis.
Keywords: ESBL-producing E. coli; bacterial meningitis; otitis media with cholesteatoma.