Meningitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Meningitis, including details on viral, bacterial, spinal, symptoms, treatment.

Two cases of fatal meningitis due to Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Veldhoen ES, Wolfs TF, van Vught AJ

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands. E.S.Veldhoen@UmcUtrecht.nl <E.S.Veldhoen@UmcUtrecht.nl>

It is extremely important to consider Fusobacterium necrophorum as a cause of meningitis in children after otitis or other upper respiratory tract infections, because of its increasing incidence. A high index of suspicion and prompt microbiological identification are mandatory; as this organism is often penicillin-resistant, prolonged antibiotic therapy is required and invasive infection carries a high risk of fatal cerebral vessel thrombosis. This report presents two fatal cases who presented to our pediatric intensive care unit in December 2004.

Published 17 April 2007 in Pediatr Neurol, 36(4): 261-3.
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