title: [Acute bacterial and fungal neonatal meningitis].
abstract: Neonatal meningitis has two closely related features: the mechanism of infection and the nature of the pathogen. When transmitted from mother to foetus, the infection is mainly caused by one of three microorganisms: Streptococcus group B, Escherichia coli or Listeria monocytogenes. It may occur before birth, in which case meningitis is of early onset and has a rather poor prognosis. When it occurs later, the infection is a pathological consequence of physiological bacterial colonization, and its symptoms and prognosis are those of post-natal meningitis. Post-natal infections are facilitated by a pre-existing pathology or by prematurity. The responsible organisms (Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, or yeasts) are often multiresistant. Advances in biology provide increasingly clearer explanation of the cerebral complications that determine the medium- and long-term prognosis. The variety of organisms and their frequent resistance to antibacterials make it necessary to use antibiotics that possess an exceptionally broad spectrum.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine néonatale, hôpital calmette, Lille.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lequien
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gremillet
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kacet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Storme
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008581:Meningitis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000151:congenital
vernacular_title: Méningites néonatales aiguës bactériennes et fongiques.