Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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Meningitis is a severe and an uncommon complication of both spinal and epidural anaesthesia. This review summarizes the knowledge on epidemiology, clinical and microbiological diagnosis and the ways to prevent them. ⋯ The unexpected appearance of meningitis during the wearing-off of a spinal anesthesia is exceptional; the possibility of death or serious sequela must be taken into account. The sources of contamination are quite frequently exogenous, the germs coming most often from the patient's cutaneous flora or the anesthetist's ENT flora. Prevention of this risk involves a rigorous respect for cutaneous disinfection and hygiene procedures. The anesthetist's medico-legal responsibilities will be called upon in case of exogenous contamination.