An unusual mimicker of a sepsis outbreak: ergot intoxication.
Methylergonovine (MEV) is a semi-synthetic ergot alkaloid used in the prevention and control of postpartum hemorrhage. This report describes 12 newborns born on the same day in a local country hospital in Turkey and developed sepsis-like symptoms and encephalopathy within the first 6 h of life due to accidental administration of MEV instead of vitamin K in the delivery room. The major features of MEV poisoning were lethargy (41.7%), seizure (75.0%), feeding intolerance (66.6%), hypoventilation (58.3%), irritability (25%), and peripheral circulatory abnormalities (58.3%). As a conclusion, clinical findings of ergot toxicity in newborns cannot be distinguished from infectious disease or neonatal encephalopathy.
Department of Neonatology, Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Maternity and Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. yagmur32@yahoo.com
Ahmet Yagmur
AY
Bas
Nihal
N
Demirel
Ahmet
A
Soysal
Kahraman
K
Arslan
Ugur
U
Dilmen
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004881:Ergotism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors; D008755:Methylergonovine / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis*
D008755:Methylergonovine