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Bacillus species infections in neonates
C C Patrick1, C Langston, C J Baker
1Myers Black Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Reviews of Infectious Diseases
|July 1, 1989
Summary
Neonatal meningitis caused by Bacillus cereus is rare but can lead to invasive brain infections. Early suspicion is crucial when gram-positive bacilli are observed, particularly in vulnerable newborns.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Neonatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Bacillus cereus is a rare cause of neonatal meningitis.
- Infections by non-anthrax Bacillus species in neonates are infrequently documented.
- Perinatally acquired Bacillus cereus meningitis can present as an indolent invasive brain disease.
Observation:
- A case of neonatal meningitis due to Bacillus cereus is presented, with postmortem histopathology revealing invasive brain parenchyma involvement.
- The cellular composition suggested an indolent process, pointing towards a possible perinatally acquired infection.
- Another neonate with systemic Bacillus species infection and a literature review identified a total of six cases since 1900.
Findings:
- Bacillus cereus can cause invasive neonatal meningitis and systemic disease.
- Histopathological findings in this case suggest a slow-developing, perinatally acquired infection.
- Infections by non-anthrax Bacillus species in neonates are rare but documented.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers should consider Bacillus species in the differential diagnosis of neonatal meningitis, particularly when gram-positive bacilli are observed on Gram stain.
- Prompt identification and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are crucial for improving outcomes in neonates with Bacillus species infections.
- Further research into the pathogenesis and optimal management of these rare neonatal infections is warranted.