Fulminant neonatal meningococcemia
H. W. Clegg, I. D. Todres, F. M. Moylan, D. E. Keim and D. C. Shannon
Neisseria meningitidis is a rare cause of infection in infants younger than
2 months of age, presumably because of transplacental passage of protective
maternal antibodies. In most reported cases of meningococcal disease in
neonates, a relatively mild clinical course has been observed. A 25-day-old
infant survived acute, severe meningococcemia due to group B N
meningitidis. This organism should be considered when neonates have signs
of septicemia, especially in the presence of cutaneous petechiae and
purpura.
