title: Epidural abscess in a neonate.
abstract: We report the case of a 16-day-old neonate who presented with fever and irritability. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected on his admission grew methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus on culture, prompting an urgent search for parameningeal collections or an occult sinus involving the central nervous system. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pyogenic collection within the epidural space extending from the upper cervical to lumbosacral level and multiple other deep tissue collections that required repeated surgical drainage. Central nervous system infections due to S. aureus are uncommon, particularly in the absence of an anatomical defect or prior neurosurgical instrumentation. This case demonstrates the importance of a timely and thorough search for parameningeal foci when CSF cultures are positive for unusual organisms such as S. aureus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia. brionyh@chw.edu.au
authors.forename: Briony
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hazelton
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kesson
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prelog
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carmo
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dexter
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy