An outbreak of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica neonatal meningitis in Mauritius

Abstract

Introduction: Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a rare but well-recognised cause of neonatal meningitis. Reported outbreaks have involved very few cases. We describe the management and outcome of a relatively large outbreak of E.meningoseptica neonatal meningitis Methodology: From August 2002 to December 2003, eight cases of meningitis caused by E. meningoseptica occurred among babies admitted to the neonatal ward of Jawarhlal Nehru hospital, Mauritius. In all cases, the organism was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid. Infection control measures were re-emphasized after each case and environmental swabs were cultured on several occasions. Results: The affected babies were aged 6 to 20 days (mean age of 10 days). Seven of the babies weighed < 2,500 g. All CSF isolates had the same antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Apart from one baby who died shortly after admission, all cases responded to treatment with intravenous piperacillin and oral rifampicin for three weeks. Hydrocephalus developed in two babies and was subsequently fatal in one case. At follow-up of the other cases, one baby had severe neurological sequelae but a full recovery was observed in the other four cases. The source of the outbreak could not be established conclusively. Conclusions: The outcome was better than what has been reported in the medical literature. Prompt identification of the causative organism and initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy is essential. The combination of piperacillin and rifampicin should be considered an option for the treatment of E. meningoseptica neonatal meningitis if supported by properly performed antibiotic susceptibility test results.

Biliary Tract Infection or Colonization with Elizabethkingia meningoseptica after Endoscopic Procedures Involving the Biliary Tract

“…Furthermore, no follow-up bile specimens were collected in most cases; therefore, the duration of colonization of E. meningoseptica could not be determined. E. meningoseptica can cause outbreaks as an opportunistic pathogen of healthcare-associated infections (22)(23)(24), and it is possible that the isolates reported in this series are closely related and have caused outbreaks. However, due to the absence of data for strain typing, it is impossible to confirm or exclude the presence of any outbreaks.…”

A Nephrostomy-associated Urinary Tract Infection Caused by <i>Elizabethkingia meningoseptica</i>

“…As far as we know, this is the first such case in which the isolate was genetically confirmed. Among the Elizabethkingia spp., E. meningoseptica is known to cause disease outbreaks in various hospital settings (1,3,5,11,12). Thus, the correct identification of Elizabethkingia spp.…”

“…E. meningoseptica can survive in water supplies by virtue of its chlorine resistance, and the contamination of medical devices with the bacterium has been widely reported (2). The organism is particularly well known as a pathogen responsible for neonatal meningitis (3)(4)(5). In adults, the pathogen usually causes respiratory infection, followed by bacteremia and meningitis (6).…”

Draft Genome Sequence of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica Isolated from a Traumatic Wound

“…Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (previously Chryseobacterium meningosepticum, Flavobacterium meningosepticum ) is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium, which is associated with meningitis in premature neonates and immunocompromised patients (1–3). Here, we report the draft whole-genome sequence of E. meningoseptica 502.…”