Question
My husband has an inoperable condition of the spine.  He is using epidurals to help with the pain and has for several years.  He had viral meningitus 6 months ago and now has shingles with the shingles virus in his spinal fluid.  He has been in the hospital for 8 days receiving fluids, antiviral meds and antibiotics in IV form.  He has been moved to another hospital as of this afternoon to receive 3 more week of this IV treatment.  Can epidurals produce this type of response after several years of use.  

Answer
Hello Barbara and thanks for writing,

Obviously I am just guessing here as I am not familiar with your husband's medical history. Epidurals are sterile procedures so the risk for infection should be slim, but as we all know, the risk of catching infections in hospitals has risen dramatically in the past decade.

Shingles is a viral infection which does flare up when people are in a weakened state so it's not too surprising he would have a flare up when he's not well. The Meningitis would seem suspicious if it was Bacterial, but I do not think he would catch viral meningitis from an epidural.

I hope this helps answer your question an I wish you both good health,

Margot