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Updated: Oct 14, 2026

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat
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Case report: A rare multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli causes fatal neonatal meningoencephalitis

Qingyun Zhou1, Zhifei Zhan2, Furong Huang1

  • 1The First-Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Frontiers in Public Health
|August 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

A rare multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli meningitis case in a neonate highlights treatment challenges. Despite intensive care, the infant died, emphasizing the need for rapid diagnostics and alternative treatments for neonatal bacterial meningitis.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal infectious diseases
  • Bacteriology
  • Antimicrobial resistance

Background:

  • Neonatal meningitis is a severe infection with high mortality.
  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria pose a significant global health threat.
  • Current empirical antibiotic regimens for neonatal sepsis are increasingly challenged by MDR pathogens.

Observation:

  • A case of sudden neonatal death due to meningitis caused by an Escherichia coli isolate is reported.
  • The E. coli isolate exhibited unusual serotype O75 and multidrug resistance patterns.
  • The pathogen was resistant to most common antibiotics, except cefoperazone/sulbactam and imipenem.

Findings:

  • The multidrug-resistant E. coli O75 isolate caused fatal meningoencephalitis in a neonate.
  • Treatment failure occurred despite aggressive symptomatic and supportive care.
  • This represents the first reported case of serotype O75 E. coli meningoencephalitis in China.

Implications:

  • The emergence of highly pathogenic MDR bacteria in neonates necessitates rapid diagnostic methods for antimicrobial resistance.
  • Current empiric treatment strategies for neonatal bacterial meningitis require re-evaluation.
  • Development of novel therapeutic approaches is crucial to combat MDR infections in vulnerable newborns.
Keywords:
Escherichia coliencephalopathyinfantinfectious diseasemetagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS)neonatal meningitis

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