LATE-ONSET NEONATAL PASTEURELLA-MULTOCIDA MENINGITIS

A case of Pasteurella multicoida meningitis in a 27-day-old infant is reported. The infant was probably contaminated by a pet and recovered under parenteral antimicrobial therapy. One-third of Pasteurella multo cida infections are invasive. Neuromeningeal involvement is uncommon. The source of contamination is often a pet (cat, dog), but a head inju ry or an endocranial surgical procedure are other possible causes. In pediatric patients, Pasteurella multocida meningitis is more common be fore one year of age. Early-onset neonatal forms can be caused by vert ical transmission of the pathogen. Pasteurella multocida is susceptibl e to the antimicrobials usually given to infants with suppurative meni ngitis. The prevention of these severe infections requires separation of neonates and infants from pets.