Bacillus cereus meningoencephalitis in preterm infants: neuroimaging characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
Meningoencephalitis can severely damage the developing brain. Preterms are more prone for nosocomial infections with pathogens other than Group B streptococci and Escherichia coli. In this report we focus on the deleterious clinical course and imaging characteristics of proven Bacillus cereus meningoencephalitis.


METHODS
We collected 3 cases of proven Bacillus cereus meningoencephalitis. In the medical records we focused on prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal risk factors. Imaging data of several brain ultrasounds, MR images, and diffusion-weighted images were reevaluated.


RESULTS
The ultrasound and MR images show a typical pattern of mainly hemorrhagic and early cavitating, selective white matter destruction.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of this paradigm of acquired brain injury may help to better understand the natural course of these severe neonatal infections.
Lequin
Maarten H
MH
Department of Radiology, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus MC--University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Vermeulen
Jeroen R
JR
van Elburg
Ruurd M
RM
Barkhof
Frederik
F
Kornelisse
René F
RF
Swarte
Renate
R
Govaert
Paul P
PP
D001409:Bacillus cereus; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004453:Echoencephalography; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*