Two Cases of Fatal Meningitis Due to Fusobacterium necrophorum
Received 9 August 2006; accepted 9 November 2006.
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.
⁎Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands
†Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Veldhoen; Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; University Medical Centre Utrecht; Wilhelmina Childrens Hospital; Room KG.01.319.0; PO Box 85090; 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
ABSTRACT