Intracranial invasive group A streptococcus: a neurosurgical emergency in children.

Objective: Invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) infections are associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. CNS involvement is rare, with iGAS accounting for only 0.2%-1% of all childhood bacterial meningitis.

Cerebral protothecosis mimicking high-grade glioma.

is a common, indolent alga that seldom causes central nervous system infections in humans. We report the first UK case of cerebral protothecosis in an immunocompetent 56-year-old woman who presented with a 5-month history of intermittent fatigue followed by a 2-week history of symptoms, including right arm and leg weakness, a loss of fine motor coordination, worsening gait, right facial tingling, diplopia and a metallic oral taste. MRI scans revealed a multifocal abnormality suggestive of high-grade glioma.