Outbreak report of investigation and control of an outbreak of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-MSSA) infection in neonates and mothers.

BACKGROUND: In January 2011, there was an outbreak of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-MSSA) infection in a neonatal unit (NNU). We describe the investigation and control of an outbreak of PVL-MSSA infection in neonates. SETTING: Neonatal unit in West London. METHODS: We performed descriptive and analytical (case-control study) epidemiological investigations. Microbiological investigations including screening of MSSA isolates by PCR for the presence of the luk-PV, mecA and mecC genes and comparison of isolate with Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Control measures were also introduced. RESULTS: Sixteen babies were infected/colonised with the outbreak strain. Of these, one baby developed blood stream infection, 12 developed skin pustules and four babies were colonised. Four mothers developed breast abscesses. Eighty-seven babies in the unit were screened and 16 were found to have same PVL-MSSA strain (spa type t005, belonging to MLST clonal complex 22). Multivariate analysis showed gestational age was significantly lower in cases compared to controls (mean gestational age: 31.7 weeks v 35.6 weeks; P = 0.006). Length of stay was significantly greater for cases, with a median of 25 days, compared to only 6 days for controls (P = 0.01). Most (88%) cases were born through caesarean section, compared to less than half of controls. (P = 0.002). No healthcare worker carriers and environmental source was identified. The outbreak was controlled by stopping new admissions to unit and reinforcing infection control precautions. The outbreak lasted for seven weeks. No further cases were reported in the following year. CONCLUSIONS: Infection control teams have to be vigilant for rising prevalence of particular S. aureus clones in their local community as they may cause outbreaks in vulnerable populations in healthcare settings such as NNUs.

Neonatal orbital abscess.

Orbital abscess is life-threatening and rare in children. Reported herein is a term male neonate who had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus orbital abscess, and a literature review of this disease. A total of 16 neonates diagnosed with neonatal orbital abscess are reported in the literature. There is a mild male predilection and two neonates were delivered prematurely. Leukocytosis, fever, ethmoiditis and associated upper respiratory tract infection were found in approximately half of them. Eight neonates had sepsis and 14 patients underwent surgical intervention. One patient died. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 14 out of 17 patients. Neonatal orbital abscess is rarely encountered but may be fatal. Although streptococci are prevalent in childhood orbital infection, S. aureus was predominant in neonatal orbital abscess in the present series. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy against S. aureus is essential in treating neonatal orbital abs ess. This case suggests that a higher initial dose of vancomycin may be an effective and safe strategy for severe S. aureus infection in neonates.

Congenital corneal staphyloma as a complication of Kabuki syndrome.

Kabuki syndrome has long been clinically defined based mainly on its characteristic eye features. The recent discovery of MLL2 as a causative gene of Kabuki syndrome has enabled the extreme end of the phenotype to be explored. We herein report on two patients with striking visible congenital staphyloma at birth. A diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome was subsequently made in both patients based on a constellation of characteristic eye features, cardiac abnormalities and severe developmental delay, and finally by the confirmation of MLL2 mutations. In conclusion, congenital corneal staphyloma is a complication of Kabuki syndrome with MLL2 mutations.

[Neonatal osteomyelitis of the proximal femur: a case with ten-year follow-up and review of the literature]. / Ostéomyélite néonatale du col du fémur avec contamination articulaire.

Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis most frequently occurs in children, generally around 6 to 9 years of age. If it occurs in early infancy, the infection usually involves both the bone and the joint, nearly simultaneously. Neonatal osteomyelitis is another presentation, with an osteomyelitic focus in the metaphysis. We report a case of septic arthritis following osteomyelitis of the hip joint in a neonate caused by a virulent pathogenic organism. Despite late diagnosis and treatment, outcome was very satisfactory with few sequelae for the joint and epiphysis. It should be emphasized that early diagnosis, with prompt and adequate treatment is essential to achieve good outcome. We discuss this case and present a review of the literature.

Non-surgical Management of a Mycotic Internal Iliac Artery Aneurysm in a Neonate: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

We report a unique case of neonatal mycotic internal iliac artery aneurysm managed non-operatively. The child had multifocal osteomyelitis and no history of umbilical artery catheterisation. The aneurysm was regularly scanned and monitored until its obliteration by thrombus 17 days after initial detection. Contingency plans for either interventional radiological coiling or open surgical repair were in place had the aneurysm grown or the child deteriorated.

Active Surveillance Cultures and Targeted Decolonization Are Associated with Reduced Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Infections in VLBW Infants.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) is a major contributor to infectious episodes of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy and safety of surveillance cultures and the decolonization of MSSA-colonized VLBWI. METHODS: VLBWI admitted to our neonatal wards in 2011-2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Rates of MSSA-attributable infections were compared before and after the implementation of active surveillance cultures and the decolonization of MSSA-colonized patients. The mupirocin susceptibility of isolated MSSA strains was routinely tested. RESULTS: A total of 1,056 VLBWI were included in the study, 552 in the pre-intervention period and 504 in the post-intervention period. The implementation of surveillance cultures and decolonization of colonized patients resulted in a 50% reduction of incidence rates per 1,000 patient-days of MSSA-attributable infections (1.63 [95% CI 1.12-2.31] vs. 0.83 [95% CI 0.47-1.35], p = 0.024). No adverse effects were observed from application of the decolonization protocol with mupirocin and octenidin. No mupirocin-resistant MSSA strains were detected during the study period. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an active surveillance and decolonization protocol resulted in a reduction of MSSA-attributable infections in VLBWI.

[Neonatal conjunctivitis in a hospital at Gran Buenos Aires. Last 5 years up-date]. / Conjuntivitis neonatal en un hospital del Gran Buenos Aires. Situación de los últimos 5 años.

Neonatal conjunctivitis is one of the most important consultation reasons in the first days of life. Causes may be chemical or infectious. Neonatal conjunctivitis study for common microorganisms and Chlamydia trachomatis is being performed at Posadas Hospital since 1995, in a progressive form. The objective of this study was to know the epidemiological situation in the last five years (1999-2003), and to describe the variations detected between two periods, 1995-1998, and 1999-2003. It was observed no change about C. trachomatis prevalence (8%), during all the time in the population studied. With regard to common microorganisms it was showed a decrease in the second period (36.6%) with respect to the first (52.4%). Likely, the causes may be due to changes about sample collection conditions, or to epidemiological variations. The most frequent microorganisms found were: Staphylococcus aureus 69 (27.6%), Streptococcus pneumoniae 68 (27.2%), and Haemophilus influenzae 64 (25.6%). We consider important to evaluate the kind of ocular secretions at the first consultation, which can lead to a symptomatic treatment that will be corroborated or not, according to microbiological results.

Diagnostic value of anti-microbial peptide, cathelicidin in congenital pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of anti-microbial peptide (cathelicidin), LL-37, in congenital pneumonia and its relation to 25 hydroxycholecalciferol [(25 OH)D] status. METHODS: The study included 30 neonates with congenital pneumonia and culture proven sepsis admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Ain Shams University and 30 healthy neonates as control group. All neonates were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and measurement of serum 25(OH)D and cathelicidin. RESULTS: Neonates with congenital pneumonia had significantly higher serum cathelicidin and lower serum 25(OH)D compared to controls. Serum cathelicidin was negatively correlated with Apgar score at 1 and 5 min and positively correlated with length of stay among patient group. CONCLUSION: Cut-off value of cathelicidin to diagnose congenital pneumonia was 17 pg/mmol with 93% sensitivity and 86% specificity. Neonates with congenital pneumonia had significantly high cathelicidin and low 25(OH)D suggesting a possible role of fetal 25(OH)D deficiency as predisposing factor for congenital pneumonia.

Evidence for postpartum toxic-shock syndrome in a mother-infant pair.

Toxic-shock syndrome occurred in a mother and possibly in her infant in the immediate postpartum period. Staphylococcus aureus of identical phage type and antibiogram was recovered from mucous membranes in both patients. Staphylococci were transmitted from mother to infant during parturition. These cases represent the first postpartum clinical description and possible vertical transmission of this disease.

Congenital lacrimal sac mucoceles.

Seven infants had tense, blue-gray swellings inferior to the medial canthal tendon with otherwise normal-appearing eyelids and puncta. All lacrimal sacs transilluminated and A-scan ultrasonography performed in one case demonstrated a nonloculated cystic cavity. Four (57%) infants had uncomplicated mucoceles. One was treated with massage, and has remained asymptomatic for 14 months. The other three were cured with a single probing and irrigation of the entire lacrimal system. Three (43%) infants had developed erythema of the tissues overlying the swollen lacrimal sacs by the time of referral. Because none of the mucoceles could be decompressed by massage, prompt probing and irrigations were performed in each case. Cultures from the aspirates of all three sacs yielded Staphylococcus organisms. In contrast to the uncomplicated cases, two patients developed recurrences that necessitated additional treatment.

[Osteoarthritis in the neonate. Radiologic diagnosis and follow-up observations (author's transl)]. / Osteoarthritis bei Neugeborenen. Radiologische Diagnostik und Verlaufsbeobachtungen.

A fatally ending index case of septic osteoarthritis that was diagnosed retrospectively initiated this report. This patient had severe, asymmetrically distributed metaphyseal growth disturbances at many long bones. In order to determine the features of early radiologic diagnosis we report the findings of 7 further patients with neonatal septic osteoarthritis with clinical and radiological follow-up. The most important observation for early radiologic diagnosis of osteoarthritis is the displacement of fat layers along the metaphysis. Other findings of the soft tissues have the same diagnostic value as bone destruction and subperiosteal new bone formation found one to three weeks later on roentgenfilms. Detecting early signs of osteoarthritis helps in localizing the focus for bacteriologic diagnosis, which is said to be more successful than blood cultures. Diagnosing a joint empyema initiates surgical intervention for pressure relief in order to avoid necrosis of the epiphysis as seen in the femoral head in septic arthritis of the hip joint. Early diagnosis and treatment prior to destruction of the growing cartilage is necessary to avoid growth disturbances and length discrepancies of long bones. In cases of sepsis a so called "babygram" and a repeat examination 10 to 14 days later is mandatory.

Neonatal hepatic abscess.

Neonatal liver abscess is a rare entity. There are no published reports of neonatal liver abscess in the radiology literature in the past 15 years. We recently encountered a premature infant in whom a hepatic abscess was diagnosed solely based on abnormal radiographic studies. We report this case to illustrate the unusual clinical and radiographic abnormalities seen with neonatal solitary hepatic abscess.

Ilio-psoas abscess in the neonate.

Ilio-psoas abscess is rare in children and exceptional in the neonate. This report describes a case of idiopathic ilio-psoas abscess in a neonate with no etiologic factor known. The diagnosis was made by ultrasonography and computed axial tomography. The treatment was extraperitoneal surgical drainage and systemic antibiotics.

Bilateral acute dacryocystitis in a premature infant.

A premature infant with bilateral acute purulent dacryocystitis was presented. The possibility of a contamination before delivery was raised. Treatment with antibiotics proved to be helpful in curing the disease.

Bone and joint infection in neonates.

A retrospective study was done to review the clinical experience of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in the newborns in our centre. Case records of all the neonates born from January 1989 to August 1994 and those admitted to outborn nursery from 1985 to 1993 were reviewed. Diagnosis of septic arthritis/osteomyelitis was made in the presence of relevant clinical signs and supported by positive culture from blood or joint fluid and abnormal X-ray or ultrasound findings. The incidence of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis among inborn babies was 1 in 1500. There were 25 neonates with mean gestational age 34.5 (range 27-40) weeks and mean birth weight 2269 (range 990-4750) gms. Limitation of movement (64%) and local swelling (60%) were commonest presentations. A total of 33 joints were involved in 25 babies. Eight babies (32%) had multiple joint involvement. Hip and knee were the most commonly involved joints (48% each). In 19 babies (76%) joint involvement occurred in association with a generalized septicemic illness while 6 babies (24%) had localised signs and symptoms. Joint aspirate was positive for gram stain or culture in 12 (48%) and 10 babies (40%) had positive blood culture. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were commonest isolates. Radiological changes were seen in 13 (52%) babies. All were treated with appropriate antibiotics and open surgical drainage was done in 5 (20%) cases. Bone and joint infections are important complications in sick septicemic neonates and need early diagnosis, appropriate management with antibiotics, surgical drainage in selected cases to prevent long term morbidity.

Neonatal septicaemia in the neonatal care unit, Al-Anbar governorate, Iraq.

Neonatal septicaemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We studied 118 neonates admitted to the main referral hospital in Al-Anbar with positive blood cultures. The incidence of neonatal septicaemia for babies born at this hospital was 9.2 per 1000 live births, and mortality was 28%. Staphylococcus aureus (39%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (30%) and Escherichia coli (21%) constituted 90% of all isolates. The isolates showed in vitro susceptibility to cefotaxime, chloramphenicol and gentamicin, but resistance to more commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin and cloxacillin. We recommend initial gentamicin/cefotaxime combined therapy while awaiting culture and sensitivity test results. Our study highlights the importance of understanding the local epidemiology of neonatal septicaemia in formulating a rational antibiotics policy.

[Intrauterine infections in the perinatal period]. / Vnutriutrobnye infektsii v perinatal'nom periode.

The results of examinations of autopsy materials in Leningrad and the data from the literature indicate that infectious diseases occupy a significant place in perinatal mortality. It is emphasized that if the autopsy materials are not sufficiently examined using not only light but also immunofluorescent microscopy, a considerable portion of these infections is not diagnosed and the pathological proprocess in such cases in considered to be aspiration pneumonia, hyaline membrane disease, etc. The paper briefly characterizes intrauterine bacterial infections (listeriasis, syphilis, staphylococcal infections, etc.) with special reference to virus diseases (cytomegaly, herpes infection, lesions caused by respiratory viruses, etc) and mycoplasmosis. It is shown that a relatively high incidence of lesions is caused by respiratory viruses and particularly mycoplasma. The possibility of protozoan and mycotic lesions is also indicated. The frequent occurrence of combined intrauterine infections is emphasized.

[Primary and secondary neonatal negative coagulase staphylococcus infections]. / Infections néonatales primitives et secondaires à staphylocoque coagulase négative.

As a rule, coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections in the neonate is an acquired iatrogenic infection. It usually occurs in premature infants with an in-dwelling catheter. Clinical and laboratory criteria are used to differentiate contaminated samplings from true infection. the frequency of methicillin-resistant strains justifies the use of vancomycin combined with an aminoglycoside and, in the first days, with rifampicin, all drugs administered in doses calculated for the post-conception age. This treatment is also administered in mother-to-foetus infections caused by CNS.

CA-MRSA puerperal mastitis and breast abscess: a potential problem emerging in Europe with many unanswered questions.

Puerperal mastitis and breast abscess caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a condition rarely described in Europe to date. We report and comment on a case of CA-MRSA puerperal breast abscess in a 22-year-old primiparous mother. This aetiology was suspected before the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the strain isolated from the abscess was known on account of a history of previous skin colonisation detected in her baby. Additionally, the most striking epidemiological and therapeutic aspects, potential consequences of cross-infection between mother and child, and infection control management of this entity are briefly reviewed and discussed.