Meningitis complicates Hugo Javier’s condition: What happens next?

Former Central governor Hugo Javier González is facing a new complication in his already serious condition: bacterial meningitis caused by pneumococcus. He remains hospitalized in a serious state at the National Hospital of Itauguá, where doctors say his vital signs are stable and his prognosis remains guarded.

Hospital medical director José Espínola Orrego said laboratory tests detected Streptococcus pneumoniae in cerebrospinal fluid collected through a cerebral catheter. Doctors installed the catheter to monitor and relieve pressure inside González’s skull.

The medical team believes the infection may have followed the skull fracture he suffered during the unclear incident at his place of detention between Sunday and Monday. “What we are thinking is that the trauma and skull fracture created a connection with the sinus area. That is where the microorganism may have entered,” Espínola said.

“

What we are thinking is that the trauma and skull fracture created a connection with the sinus area. That is where the microorganism may have entered.

The director stressed that the infection is separate from a possible stroke and from the circumstances surrounding the incident. “It is completely independent. It has nothing to do with the stroke,” he said.

A neurosurgical procedure to seal the fractured bone will have to wait until the infection improves. Doctors plan to treat it with antibiotics for five to seven days first. Espínola said González remains in an induced coma in intensive care, with stable vital signs, low ventilator requirements and no fever spikes. He does not require inotropic drugs.

“

It is completely independent. It has nothing to do with the stroke.