Two cases of fatal meningitis due to Fusobacterium necrophorum.
It is extremely important to consider Fusobacterium necrophorum as a cause of meningitis in children after otitis or other upper respiratory tract infections, because of its increasing incidence. A high index of suspicion and prompt microbiological identification are mandatory; as this organism is often penicillin-resistant, prolonged antibiotic therapy is required and invasive infection carries a high risk of fatal cerebral vessel thrombosis. This report presents two fatal cases who presented to our pediatric intensive care unit in December 2004.
Veldhoen
Esther S
ES
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands. E.S.Veldhoen@UmcUtrecht.nl <E.S.Veldhoen@UmcUtrecht.nl>
Wolfs
Tom F
TF
van Vught
Adrianus J
AJ
D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005675:Fusobacterium necrophorum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D010406:Penicillins