Paenibacillus dendritiformis as a Cause of Destructive Meningitis in Infants

Danielle Smith1, Rupa Garikipati1, Kristen Bastug2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.

NEJM Evidence
|February 3, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Paenibacillus dendritiformis infections can cause severe neurologic issues in infants. This emerging threat requires increased clinical awareness to prevent serious complications.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Invasive Paenibacillus infections present a significant risk to neonates.
  • These infections are associated with a high likelihood of neurological complications.

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