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Published on: July 1, 2018

Infected cephalohematoma associated with sepsis and skull osteomyelitis: report of one case

H C Kao1, Y C Huang, T Y Lin

  • 1Division of Infectious Disease, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

American Journal of Perinatology
|April 25, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Infection of a cephalohematoma complicated by skull osteomyelitis and E. coli sepsis required surgical intervention. Prompt debridement alongside antibiotics led to significant clinical improvement in this infant case.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Neonatal Critical Care
  • Skeletal Infections

Background:

  • Cephalohematoma, a common neonatal condition, rarely leads to severe complications.
  • Escherichia coli sepsis in neonates presents significant treatment challenges.
  • Osteomyelitis of the skull is an uncommon but serious infection.

Observation:

  • A 37-day-old infant presented with persistent Escherichia coli sepsis unresponsive to initial antibiotic therapy.
  • A subsequent diagnosis of infected cephalohematoma with underlying skull osteomyelitis was made.
  • Cranial CT revealed abscess formation and bony destruction in the left parietal region.

Findings:

  • Antibiotic therapy alone was insufficient to resolve the complex infection.
  • Surgical management, including incision, drainage, and debridement of necrotic bone, was crucial.
  • Combined surgical and antibiotic treatment resulted in rapid clinical improvement.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering invasive complications in neonatal sepsis with cephalohematoma.
  • Aggressive surgical intervention may be necessary for eradicating deep-seated infections like skull osteomyelitis.
  • Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving infectious disease specialists and surgeons.

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