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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · AJP Rep 2022; 12(02): e123-e126
DOI: 10.1055/a-1830-2903
Case Report

Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis Caused by Vertical Transmission of Pasteurella multocida

Johannah M. Scheurer 
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
Meghan L. Fanta
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
Gretchen A. Colbenson
2   Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
Sophie Arbefeville
3   Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
Patricia Ferrieri
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
3   Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Funding None.
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Abstract

Early-onset neonatal sepsis contributes substantially to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Presenting signs and symptoms vary, and most causes are due to a limited number of common microbes. However, providers must be cognizant of unusual pathogens when treating early-onset sepsis (EOS). We report a case of a term neonate who presented with respiratory distress, lethargy, and hypoglycemia 5 hours after birth. He was treated for presumed EOS with blood culture, revealing an unusual pathogen, Pasteurella multocida. Sepsis from this pathogen is a rarely reported cause of early onset neonatal sepsis. Our report is one of few that implicate vertical transmission with molecular diagnostic confirmation of P. multocida, subspecies septica. The neonate was treated with antibiotics and supportive care and recovered without ongoing complications. Providers should maintain an index of suspicion for rare causes of neonatal EOS. For these unusual cases, precise microbial identification enables understanding to provide best clinical care and anticipation of complications.

Keywords

Pasteurella multocida - neonate - early-onset sepsis - vertical transmission - gene sequencing


Publication History

Received: 13 November 2021

Accepted: 05 April 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
20 April 2022

Article published online:
06 August 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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