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A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts
Published on: September 20, 2018
Congenital brucellosis in an infant
María L Cacace1, Erica A Claros, Karina A Erazu
1Hospital San Vicente de Paul, Orán, Salta, Argentina.
Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|April 18, 2013
Summary
Congenital Brucellosis is rare, but this case highlights late prenatal transmission from mother to infant. Early diagnosis and routine serological testing in pregnant women are crucial in endemic areas.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Microbiology
Background:
- Brucellosis in pregnant women can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- Congenital Brucellosis transmission is uncommon but possible.
- Brucella melitensis biovar 1 is a significant zoonotic pathogen.
Observation:
- A case of late prenatal transmission of Brucella melitensis biovar 1 from mother to term infant is presented.
- Maternal brucellosis was initially undetected due to a lack of clinical suspicion.
- Infant blood cultures were key to diagnosing the congenital infection.
Findings:
- The infant was diagnosed with Brucellosis via blood culture.
- Maternal disease was asymptomatic or subclinical, leading to delayed diagnosis.
- Misdiagnosis of fever of unknown origin (FUO) can lead to inappropriate antimicrobial therapy.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering Brucellosis in pregnant women, even without clear symptoms.
- Emphasizes the need for routine serological screening for Brucellosis in pregnant women in endemic regions.
- Underscores the potential for severe neonatal outcomes if maternal Brucellosis is not identified and treated promptly.
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