Three infants who presented with premature rupture of membranes and neonatal pneumonia caused by organisms belonging to members of the B. fragilis group are reported. In all 3 instances, the organisms were recovered from tracheal aspirates and in 2 from blood cultures as well. Two of the new borns, treated with ampicillin and gentamicin, succumbed to their infections. The third, treated with clindamycin, recovered. Appropriate antibiotic coverage taking into account the penicillin-resistant anaerobes seems warranted for infants with neonatal pneumonia.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Thirumoothi MC, Keen BM, Dajani AS: Anaerobic infections in children: a prospective survey. J Clin Microbiol3:318, 1976
2.
Dunkle LM, Brotherton MS, Feigen RD: Anaerobic infections in children: a prospective survey. Pediatrics57:311, 1976
3.
Brook I., Martin W., Cherry JD, et al: The recovery of anaerobic bacteria from pediatric patients: a one year experience. Am J Dis Child133:1020, 1979
Finegold SM: Anaerobic Bacteria in Human Disease. New York, Academic Press, 1977
6.
Sutter VL, Vargo VL, Finegold SM: Wadsworth Anaerobic Bacteriology Manual, Second Edition. Los Angeles, University of California, Extension Division , 1975, 106 pp
7.
Martin WJ: Practical method for isolation of anaerobic bacteria in the clinical laboratory . Appl Microbiol22:1168, 1971
8.
Lennette EH, Spaulding EH, Truant JP, (Eds): Manual of Clinical Microbiology, Second edition. Washington, DC, American Society for Microbiology, 1974
9.
Brook, I., Barret C., Brickman C., et al: Aerobic and anaerobic flora of maternal cervix and newborn's conjunctiva and gastric fluid: a prospective study. Pediatrics63:451, 1979
10.
Harrod JR, Stevens DA: Anaerobic infections in the newborn infant. J Pediatr85:399, 1974
11.
Chow AW, Leake RD, Yamauchi T., et al: The significance of anaerobes in neonatal bacteremia: analysis of 23 cases and review of the literature. Pediatrics54:736, 1974
12.
Brook I., Martin WJ, Finegold SM: Effect of silver nitrate application on the conjunctival flora of the newborn and the occurrence of clostridial conjunctivitis. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabis15:179, 1978
13.
Pearson HE, Anderson GV: Bacteroides infections and pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol35:31, 1970
14.
Rotheram EB , Schick SF: Nonclostridial anaerobic bacteria in septic abortions. Am J Med46:80, 1969
Klein RB, Fischer TJ, Gard SE, et al: Decreased mononucleus and polymorphonuclear chemotaxis in human newborns, infants and young children. Pediatrics60:467, 1977
17.
Barson AJ: Fatal Pseudomonas aeruginosa broncho-pneumonia in a children's hospital. Arch Dis Child46:55, 1971
18.
Bernstein J. , Wang J.: The pathology of neonatal pneumonia. Am J Dis Child101:350, 1961
19.
Hable KA, Matsen JM, Wheeler DJ, et al: Klebsiella type 33 septicemia in an infant intensive care unit . J Pediatr80:920, 1972
20.
Thaler MM: Klebsiella-Aerobacter pneumonia in infants: a review of the literature and report of a case. Pediatrics30:206, 1962
21.
Penner DW, McInnis AC: Intrauterine and neonatal pneumonia. Am J Obstet Gynecol69:147, 1955
22.
Eickhoff TC , Klein JO, Daly AK, et al: Neonatal sepsis and other infections due to group B beta-hemolytic streptococci. N Engl J Med271:1221, 1964
23.
Smith Jam, Jennison RF, Langley RA: Perinatal infection and perinatal death: Clinical aspects. Lancet2:903, 1956
24.
Bartlett JC , Finegold SM: Anaerobic infections of the lung and pleural space. Am Rev Respir Dis110: 56, 1974
Sutter VL, Finegold SM: Susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria to 23 antimicrobial agents. Antimicrob Agents Chemother10:736, 1976
27.
Gorbach SL, Thadepalli H.: Clindamycin in the treatment of pure and mixed anaerobic infections. Arch Intern Med134:87, 1974
28.
Brook I.: Clindamycin in the treatment of aspiration pneumonia in children. Antimicrob Agents Chemother15:342, 1979
29.
Holland JW, Stauffer LR, Altemeier WA: Fluorescent antibody test kit for rapid detection and identification of members of the Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus groups in clinical specimens. J Clin Microbiol10: 121, 1973
