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Published on: October 29, 2014

Neonatal meningitis. The ventricle as a bacterial reservoir

F H Gilles, J L Jammes, W Berenberg

    Archives of Neurology
    |September 1, 1977
    PubMed

    Insights

    Neonatal meningitis autopsies revealed plexitis and ventricular exudate. The choroid plexus may harbor bacteria, suggesting more aggressive treatments are needed beyond antibiotics.

    Area of Science:

    • Neonatal pathology
    • Infectious diseases
    • Microbiology

    Background:

    • Neonatal meningitis is a serious infection with significant mortality.
    • Understanding the pathological mechanisms is crucial for improving treatment outcomes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the pathological findings in neonates who died from meningitis.
    • To explore the potential role of the choroid plexus in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of autopsy findings in neonates diagnosed with meningitis.
    • Histopathological examination focusing on the central nervous system.

    Main Results:

    • Plexitis (inflammation of the choroid plexus) and ventricular exudate were consistently observed.
    • The choroid plexus, rich in glycogen, may serve as a bacterial reservoir resistant to antimicrobial agents.

    Conclusions:

    • The choroid plexus's role in bacterial colonization warrants further investigation.
    • Current parenteral antimicrobial therapy might be insufficient, necessitating consideration of more aggressive treatment strategies for neonatal meningitis.

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