title: Bacillus species infections in neonates.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Myers Black Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langston
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: 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