Neonatal Meningitis Outbreak by Elizabethkingia: A Case Series and Epidemiological Investigation Findings

Abstract

This study is a case series ( n = 7) of neonatal meningitis caused by Elizabethkingia at a tertiary-level hospital in South India. All cases occurred in premature and low-birth-weight neonates over a short period of 4 months, constituting an outbreak. The bacterial pathogen was identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in all cases and was found to be sensitive to vancomycin and ciprofloxacin. All neonates survived, but one developed ventriculomegaly. The outbreak was investigated, but the source of contamination was not identified in the environment. However, new cases ceased to occur after revamping the feeding practices. Hence, it was assumed that the feeding utensils might have been the source of contamination. The study highlights the importance of source elimination and implementing appropriate infection control measures in neonatal intensive care units (NICU).