DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjmcr.2025.v13i12.011

Pages: 2943-2945

A white lumbar puncture is a rare but challenging clinical situation that may delay the diagnosis of severe bacterial meningitis. We report the case of a 74-year-old woman admitted to the intensive care unit with acute neurologic impairment, septic shock, and respiratory distress, in whom the lumbar puncture yielded no cerebrospinal fluid despite a clinical presentation highly suggestive of meningoencephalitis. Blood cultures subsequently identified an invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection, complicated by a fulminant progression to refractory multiorgan failure. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with a white tap and emphasizes the importance of early empiric antibiotic therapy in severe presentations [1–3].