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Journal of Pediatric Neuroradiology 2012; 01(02): 127-132
DOI: 10.3233/PNR-2012-019
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

MRI appearance of multifocal Enterobacter cloacae abscesses in a preterm neonate

Jason D. Hinman
a   Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
,
Jason Lerner
b   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Mattel Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, USA
,
Noriko Salamon
c   Department of Neuroradiology, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

03 September 2010

05 January 2011

Publication Date:
28 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Bacterial brain abscesses are a potentially catastrophic complication of neonatal care requiring prompt diagnosis and management to avoid neurologic sequelae. Enterobacter species are known to cause multifocal lobar abscesses in the neonatal brain similar to other gram negative facultative anaerobic rods such as Citrobacter species. A preterm neonate developed Enterobacter cloacae cerebral abscesses after 3 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated large periventricular ring-enhancing cystic-appearing lesions with hypointense internal stranding present on gradient echo sequences. The abscesses were treated with neurosurgical drainage and a prolonged course of antibiotics. We present the case details, radiologic findings including MRI features of Enterobacter cloacae abscesses and management of this difficult case.

Keywords

E. cloacae - brain abscess - neonate - MRI