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.
Bas
Ahmet Yagmur
AY
Department of Neonatology, Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Maternity and Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. yagmur32@yahoo.com
Demirel
Nihal
N
Soysal
Ahmet
A
Arslan
Kahraman
K
Dilmen
Ugur
U
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