Late-onset sepsis in a preterm twin may harbinger life-threatening sepsis for the asymptomatic co-twin.
We report extremely preterm twins who developed late-onset Escherichia coli sepsis in the second postnatal week within a short time of each other. The asymptomatic twin was not treated initially, and within 2 days developed life-threatening septicemia and meningitis, followed by other serious morbidity. Occurrence of late-onset sepsis in a twin should prompt concurrent investigation and consideration of presumptive treatment of the apparently asymptomatic co-twin.
Pai
Jayaram R
JR
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, United Kingdom.
Tremlett
Catherine H
CH
Clarke
Paul
P
D017668:Age of Onset; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D020814:Meningitis, Escherichia coli / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic