Bacillus species infections in neonates.
A case of neonatal meningitis due to Bacillus cereus is presented. Postmortem histopathologic examination revealed an invasive disease involving the brain parenchyma, with a cellular composition consistent with an indolent process indicative of possible perinatally acquired infection. One other neonate from our institution with systemic disease due to a nonanthrax bacillus is described, and a review of the English-language literature since 1900 reveals four additional neonates infected with these unusual pathogens. Such Bacillus species infections are rare but should be suspected when gram-positive bacilli are noted on gram stain, especially in an immunocompromised host.
Patrick
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CC
Myers Black Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Langston
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Baker
C J
CJ
D001407:Bacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology