Neonatal sepsis with meningitis, ventriculitis and brain abscess caused byEdwardsiella tarda

Abstract

A case of neonatal sepsis caused byEdwardsiella tarda, an uncommon pathogen typically associated with aquatic lifeforms, is described. The infant presented in septic shock with seizures and respiratory failure and was found to have meningitis, ventriculitis and a brain abscess requiring drainage. Only a small number of case reports of neonatalE. tardainfection, several with sepsis with poor auditory or neurodevelopmental outcomes or meningitis, have been described in the literature. This case report suggests thatE. tarda, while uncommon, can be a cause of serious central nervous system disease in the neonatal population and that an aggressive approach to pursuing and treating complications may lead to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes.