Neonatal sepsis with meningitis, ventriculitis and brain abscess caused by Edwardsiella tarda

BMJ Case Rep. 2024 May 3;17(5):e254028. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-254028.

Abstract

A case of neonatal sepsis caused by Edwardsiella tarda, an uncommon pathogen typically associated with aquatic lifeforms, is described. The infant presented in septic shock with seizures and respiratory failure and was found to have meningitis, ventriculitis and a brain abscess requiring drainage. Only a small number of case reports of neonatal E. tarda infection, several with sepsis with poor auditory or neurodevelopmental outcomes or meningitis, have been described in the literature. This case report suggests that E. tarda, while uncommon, can be a cause of serious central nervous system disease in the neonatal population and that an aggressive approach to pursuing and treating complications may lead to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Keywords: Meningitis; Neonatal and paediatric intensive care.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Abscess* / microbiology
  • Cerebral Ventriculitis* / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Ventriculitis* / drug therapy
  • Cerebral Ventriculitis* / microbiology
  • Edwardsiella tarda* / isolation & purification
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections* / complications
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections* / diagnosis
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Meningitis / diagnosis
  • Meningitis / microbiology
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / complications
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / diagnosis
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Neonatal Sepsis* / diagnosis
  • Neonatal Sepsis* / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents