Fatal septicemia by multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium in a case of exomphalos minor

Abstract

Exomphalos minor is one among uncommon disorders of the umbilical region. Here, we report a fatal case of exomphalos minor with enterococcal septicemia. A male baby, born with exomphalos minor, developed clinical features of septicemia on the fourth postnatal day. Blood samples were collected by venepuncture from two sites for culture. Enterococcus faecium was isolated from both the blood samples. The swabs collected from the site of exomphalos also yielded growth of Enterococcus faecium, confirming the source of infection. The antibiogram with Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) for various antibiotics was done for isolates from all three sites, which was similar. The isolate was resistant to multiple antibiotics with high level aminoglycoside resistance. The baby was treated with antibiotics and other supportive measures. However, the baby succumbed to the septicemia. As per our knowledge, this is the first reported case of fatal septicemia by multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium in a case of exomphalos minor.