Bacillus cereus Bacteremia and Meningoencephalitis in a Twin-Preterm Neonate: A Case Report and Review of the literature - Pediatrics & Neonatal Care

Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive spore-forming, motile and rod-shaped bacterium that produces tissue destructive toxins and it is commonly found in the environment. As a human pathogen, it is known for self-limited acute gastroenteritis after food poisoning. But it is also a rare cause of neonatal sepsis, highly aggressive and often fatal. Herein, we describe a case of Bacillus cereus bacteremia and  meningoencephalitis  in  a  4-day-old  female  twin-preterm  neonate.  The  neonate  in  only  12  hours  after  the  initial  clinical  deterioration developed irreversible brain damage and fell to coma. The infant died on her sixth day of life due to cardiorespiratory deterioration and brain stem, central arrest. This case report aims to highlight the importance of clinical suspicion, early diagnosis and effective treatment.

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