NEONATAL MENINGITIS CAUSED BY ALCALIGENES XYLOSOXYDANS

Background. - Neonatal meningitis due to Alcaligenes xylosoxydans is e xceptional; its diagnosis and treatment may be difficult. Care report. - A neonate born at 42 weeks of GA to a mother who worked as a nurse in an intensive care unit was admitted on day 2 for a severe infection . Her cerebrospinal (CSF) contained 1,970 white cell/mm(3), polymorpho nuclear in majority direct examination failed to show any germ but the CSF and blood cultures were positive for Alcaligenes xylosoxydans, a strain that was resistant to the initially given antibiotics. The pati ent was given piperacillin, 300 mg/kg/d for 21 days and completely cur ed with a follow-up of 6 months. Conclusion. - This care shows that lo mbar puncture can be necessary in evaluating early neonatal sepsis; it also shows usefulness of piperacillin in some cases.