[Neonatal pleuropulmonary staphylococcal infection with multiple abscesses of the liver]

We report the case of a neonate who developed septicemia due to a methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strain at six days of age. At eight days of age, physical evaluation revealed a tense, tender abdomen and further enlargement of the liver, and abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated multiple liver abscesses. On the following day, pleuropulmonary lesions developed and required mechanical ventilation. Recovery was achieved using parenteral vancomycin and fosfomycin for 15 days followed by oral pristinamycin for ten days. This case is unusual in that the infection was acquired by the digestive route probably as a result of lymphangitis of the breast in the mother, and multiple liver abscesses were associated with the pleuropulmonary localization. It provides further evidence of the value of ultrasonography for the diagnosis and monitoring of liver abscesses, including multiple abscesses.