Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infection and Meningitis Due to Bergeyella zoohelcum in a young child

Read about a rare case of VP shunt infection and in a 14 month old due to zoohelcum, a zoonotic gram negative rod found in canine and feline oral flora likely via pet dog saliva exposure in post surgical incision.

The child presented with fussiness, fatigue and CSF leak from scalp after recent neurosurgical interventions and rapid deterioration with seizures requiring intubation, with CSF findings classic for bacterial meningitis and GN rods observed after 25hrs. Management involved treatment with Meropenem and vancomycin later changed to Ceftrixone with VP shunt removal and EVD placement.

This case shows the importance of educating patients and families about risk of infection with family pets, particularly in those with recent open wounds.

Amy Heiberger et al.

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infection and Meningitis Due to... : The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal An abstract is unavailable.