Cladosporium bantianum meningitis in a neonate

Tushar K Banerjee1, A K Patwari, Renu Dutta

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Kalawati Saran Children Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Insights

Cladosporium bantianum meningitis is rare in neonates. This case highlights a 6-day-old infant with C. bantianum meningitis, presenting challenges in diagnosis and treatment, with an unsatisfactory response to antifungal therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neonatal Neurology

Background:

  • Cladosporium bantianum meningitis is primarily documented in adult farmers.
  • Neonatal fungal meningitis is a rare but serious condition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of Cladosporium bantianum meningitis in a neonate.
  • To discuss diagnostic challenges and treatment outcomes in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical case presentation of a 6-day-old male neonate.
  • Initial pyogenic meningitis treatment with antibiotics.
  • Repeat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and culture.
  • Cerebral cortex abscesses identified via CT scan.

Main Results:

  • Initial antibiotic therapy for presumed pyogenic meningitis was ineffective.
  • Diagnosis of C. bantianum meningitis was confirmed via CSF culture.
  • Multiple cerebral cortex abscesses were detected on CT scan.
  • Clinical response to antifungal therapy was unsatisfactory.

Conclusions:

  • Cladosporium bantianum meningitis can occur in neonates, presenting atypically.
  • Diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion and repeated CSF analysis.
  • Treatment outcomes for neonatal C. bantianum meningitis remain challenging.

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