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A case of Mycoplasma hominis meningo-encephalitis in a full-term infant: rapid recovery after start of treatment with ciprofloxacin

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Abstract

The role of Mycoplasma hominis as a causative agent for neonatal sepsis and meningitis is still unclear. Meningitis secondary to M. hominis is well-described in the literature; however, M. hominis can also be isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from infants without signs of meningitis. We present a case of a full-term infant with meningo-encephalitis with seizures, epileptic activity on the EEG, inflammation of brain tissue on a CT scan, and cloudy CSF containing elevated cell counts, decreased glucose levels and elevated protein levels. M. hominis was identified from the CSF by culture and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the only possible causative agent. Furthermore, while empiric antibiotic and antiviral treatment for neonatal sepsis had failed, the meningo-encephalitis promptly responded upon antibiotic treatment with ciprofloxacin (20 mg/kg per day i.v.), to which M. hominis is susceptible. Conclusion: a meningo-encephalitis developed due to infection with M. hominis in a full-term infant, from which he recovered rapidly after start of treatment with ciprofloxacin.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Cees M. Verduin

    Present address: St. PAMM Laboratory for Medical Microbiology, Postbus 2, 5500 AA , Veldhoven, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Virology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Katja C. Wolthers

  2. Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Cindy van der Schee & Cees M. Verduin

  3. Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    René F. Kornelisse

  4. Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Nico G. Hartwig

  5. Department of Medical Microbiology, IJsselland Hospital, Capelle a/d IJssel, The Netherlands

    Gert J. J. M. Platenkamp

  6. Deapartment of Paediatrics, IJsselland Hospital, Capelle a/d IJssel, The Netherlands

    M. Inge Schuurman-van der Lem

Authors
  1. Katja C. Wolthers
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  2. René F. Kornelisse
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  3. Gert J. J. M. Platenkamp
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  4. M. Inge Schuurman-van der Lem
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  5. Cindy van der Schee
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  6. Nico G. Hartwig
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  7. Cees M. Verduin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cees M. Verduin.

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Wolthers, K.C., Kornelisse, R.F., Platenkamp, G.J.J.M. et al. A case of Mycoplasma hominis meningo-encephalitis in a full-term infant: rapid recovery after start of treatment with ciprofloxacin. Eur J Pediatr 162, 514–516 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-003-1219-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-003-1219-6

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