Massive pneumatosis without necrosis: A case report of Clostridium perfringens sepsis in an extremely low birth weight infant

Y Nicolau; F Bany-Mohammed; P M Carpenter; C Uy

doi:10.3233/NPM-15814066

Massive pneumatosis without necrosis: A case report of Clostridium perfringens sepsis in an extremely low birth weight infant

J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 2015;8(3):257-61. doi: 10.3233/NPM-15814066.

Authors

Y Nicolau¹, F Bany-Mohammed², P M Carpenter³, C Uy²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA,USA.
³ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, and University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

PMID: 26485548
DOI: 10.3233/NPM-15814066

Abstract

Pneumatosis intestinalis and free intraperitoneal air on abdominal radiographs are considered pathognomonic signs of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We report a unique case of late-onset fulminant sepsis due to Clostridium perfringens presenting with shock, extensive pneumatosis intestinalis and free intraperitoneal air in an extremely low birth weight infant without histopathological evidence of bowel necrosis or NEC.

Keywords: ELBW; NEC; anaerobic; bowel; preterm; sepsis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Clostridium Infections / complications*
Clostridium Infections / diagnosis
Clostridium perfringens / isolation & purification*
Humans
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature, Diseases / etiology*
Male
Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / complications*
Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / diagnosis
Sepsis / diagnosis
Sepsis / etiology*