This study suggests that C. meningosepticum colonization in neonates does not necessarily lead to infection and that such colonization outbreaks may be controlled with emphasis on the standard precautions.

Infant colonization by Staphylococcus aureus has not been adequately investigated. In this study, we aimed to define determinants associated with the carriage of S. aureus in early infancy. Serial nasal swabs were collected from 128 infants and their mothers at months 0, 6, and 12 postpartum. S. aureus isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa typing, and the presence of chromosomal mecA and of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. S. aureus was isolated in 17.7% and 15.7% of swabs from infants and mothers, respectively. Carriage rates were higher in infants with carrier mothers, non-smoking mothers, and many siblings. Persistent carriage rates were higher in infants with carrier or non-smoking mothers. S. aureus typing revealed identical strains in 10/15 investigated infant-mother pairs. Among 19 investigated S. aureus isolates from infants, ten harbored mecA and two harbored PVL genes, and these determinants were concomitantly present in isolates from mothers. Resistance to methicillin was 43.6% among all isolates from infants. In conclusion, isolates from infants were commonly identical to isolates from their mothers, pointing to a principal role of maternal carriage in S. aureus colonization in infants.

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Background: Several lesions of diverse origin may be detected in the oral cavity of children, affecting the oral mucosa, jaws, or teeth. In equivocal cases, their clinicopathologic features may show considerable overlap with various entities. We present a case of a "ring-like" hard mass around the cervical area of a primary tooth in a child and discuss the diagnostic challenges. Methods: A 2.5 year-old girl was presented by her mother for evaluation of a painless left first primary lower incisor lesion, first noticed 5 months ago. Medical history was unremarkable, while previous injury or other incident could not be recalled by the patient's mother. Clinical examination and a periapical radiograph were performed. Results:The clinical examination revealed a yellowish, non-removable, hard in consistency, cylindrical mass, completely surrounding the cervical area of the left first primary lower incisor. A periapical radiograph was performed, revealing a cylindrical radiopacity of mild intensity encasing the tooth cervix and a diagnosis of a foreign body inserted around the tooth was made. Regular follow-up appointments were attended for the next 4 years in which mild but progressive gingival recession, revealing a larger part of the ring-like structure was observed. At age of 6, the tooth was extracted and a cylindrical structure was detached from the tooth, confirming its nature as a foreign body. Conclusions: A foreign body surrounding the cervix of a tooth eventually becoming inseparable may cause a peculiar clinical and radiographic appearance and provoke diagnostic difficulties, especially in the lack of a relevant history.

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