Streptococcus bovis meningitis in an infant

Streptococcus bovis is a nonenterococcal, group D streptococcus which has b een identified as a causative agent far serious human infections, including endocarditis, bacteremia, and septic arthritis. Several cases of adult S. bovis meningitis have been reported, usually in association with underlying disease. In the neonatal period, it is an uncommon agent of meningitis. We report, to our knowledge, the third documented case of neonatal S. bar is meningitis in the English language literature. As in the previous cases, th is neonate showed no anatomical or congenital immunologic lesion which migh t be expected to predispose the patient to meningitis. Sequencing of the 16 S ribosomal DNA gene was performed and a new PCR test was used to secure a more reliable identification of the strain.