title: Severe brain damage in premature infants associated with postnatal infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined clinical features and neuroimaging characteristics of severe brain damage in premature infants with postnatal infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of two preterm infants who developed extensive encephalomalacia secondary to postnatal infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two premature boys experienced serious postnatal infection at about 3 weeks after birth; the infection was characterized by lethargy, apnea, increased CRP, severe bilateral pneumonia, positive sputum culture for multidrug-resistant bacteria, and mild changes of cerebrospinal fluid. Both infants required ventilation and antibiotic therapy. While both infants survived, a very extensive encephalomalacia was documented by serial cranial ultrasound, MRI and CT scans 3 to 4 weeks after postnatal infection. Their mothers had no premature ruptures of membranes and no signs of antenatal infection, suggesting potential postnatal infection in the infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More studies are needed to better understand the underlying mechanism of encephalomalacia associated with postnatal infection. To facilitate early diagnosis and effective treatment, cranial ultrasound scans should be done routinely in premature infants with serious postnatal infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bethune International Peace Hospital Shijiazhuang, Province of Hebei, China. liufanglafy@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004678:Encephalomalacia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020615:Stenotrophomonas maltophilia