Virulence Analysis of Bacillus cereus Isolated after Death of Preterm Neonates, Nice, France, 2013

Romain Lotte; Anne-Laure Hérissé; Yasmina Berrouane; Laurène Lotte; Florence Casagrande; Luce Landraud; Sabine Herbin; Nalini Ramarao; Laurent Boyer; Raymond Ruimy

doi:10.3201/eid2305.161788

Virulence Analysis of Bacillus cereus Isolated after Death of Preterm Neonates, Nice, France, 2013

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 May;23(5):845-848. doi: 10.3201/eid2305.161788.

Authors

Romain Lotte, Anne-Laure Hérissé, Yasmina Berrouane, Laurène Lotte, Florence Casagrande, Luce Landraud, Sabine Herbin, Nalini Ramarao, Laurent Boyer, Raymond Ruimy

Abstract

After the deaths of 2 preterm neonates with Bacillus cereus systemic infection in the same intensive care unit, we investigated the pathogenic potential of this bacterium. Genetic and virulence analysis indicated the neonates were infected with 2 different strains with a virulence potential similar to environmental strains, indicating likely patient immune response failure.

Keywords: Bacillus cereus; France; Nice; bacteria; emerging pathogen; environmental pathogen; neonates; virulence.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Bacillus cereus / genetics
Bacillus cereus / isolation & purification*
Bacillus cereus / pathogenicity
Cross Infection
Drug Therapy, Combination
Fatal Outcome
Female
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / diagnosis*
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Pregnancy
Ultrasonography, Prenatal
Virulence / genetics
Virulence Factors / genetics

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Virulence Factors