Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 50, Issue 1 , Pages 3-7, February 2009

Late-Onset Enterobacter cloacae Sepsis in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Neonates: Experience in a Medical Center

  • Hsiao-Neng Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
    • Colleges of Management, Central Taiwan University of Technology and Science, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135 Nansiau Street, Changhua 500, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Meng-Luen Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wai-Kit Yu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yue-Wen Lin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Lon-Yen Tsao

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan

Received 27 February 2008; received in revised form 23 May 2008; accepted 1 August 2008.

Article Outline

Objective

The objective of this study was to review the early clinical profiles and outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates with late-onset sepsis caused by Enterobacter cloacae.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of VLBW neonates whose blood and/or cerebral spinal fluid yielded E. cloacae after 3 days of hospitalization in our neonatal intensive care unit.

Results

From January 1997 to December 2006, a total of 29 episodes of E. cloacae infection occurred in 28 VLBW neonates. The onset of E. cloacae infection ranged from 4 to 70 days (27.4 ± 9.6) days after birth. The most common symptoms and signs of sepsis were desaturation (58.6%), tachycardia (58.6%), apnea (55.2%), unstable body temperature (48.3%), and decreased activity (44.8%). The infected neonates had an average of four kinds of symptoms in each sepsis episode. The most common laboratory findings in VLBW neonates with E. cloacae sepsis were thrombocytopenia (65.5%), C-reactive protein ≧ 1 mg/dL (55.2%), band-form neutrophils ≧ 5% (41.4%), and leucopoenia (20.7%). Empirical intravenous antibiotic therapy comprising piperacillin (or piperacillin and tazobactam) and gentamicin (or amikacin) was successful in the early treatment of 24 episodes of E. cloacae sepsis in 25 patients. Three neonates (10.7%) died due to E. cloacae sepsis. Four neonates (14.3%) developed E. cloacae meningitis, and two of them developed brain abscesses.

Conclusion

E. cloacae infection in VLBW neonates usually presents with non-specific symptoms and signs. Early recognition of sepsis and empirical combination of piperacillin (or piperacillin and tazobactam) and gentamicin (or amikacin) may be useful for treatment of sepsis caused by this highly virulent pathogen.

Key Words:  Enterobacter cloacae , sepsis , very low birth weight

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PII: S1875-9572(09)60022-X

doi:10.1016/S1875-9572(09)60022-X

Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 50, Issue 1 , Pages 3-7, February 2009

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