Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, an emerging pathogen in newborns: Three case reports and a review of the literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is a rare cause of neonatal sepsis with significant morbidity and mortality and has extensive resistance to several antibiotics leaving few options for antimicrobial therapy. Only a few cases have been reported in neonates from developing countries. We report three cases of critically ill, extramural babies with neonatal S. maltophilia sepsis. All three babies recovered and were discharged.

CASE SUMMARY

All three cases were term extramural babies, who were critically ill at the time of presentation at our neonatal intensive care unit. They had features of multiorgan dysfunction at admission. Blood culture was positive for S. maltophilia in two babies and one had a positive tracheal aspirate culture. The babies were treated according to the antibiogram available. They recovered and were subsequently discharged.

CONCLUSION

Although various authors have reported S. maltophilia in pediatric and adult populations, only a few cases have been reported in the newborn period and this infection is even rarer in developing countries. Although S. maltophilia infection has a grave outcome, our three babies were successfully treated and subsequently discharged.

Keywords: Ceftriaxone, Multidrug resistant, Neonatal sepsis, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Cotrimoxazole, Tigecycline

Core Tip: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a rare cause of neonatal sepsis with significant morbidity and mortality and has extensive resistance to several antibiotics leaving few options for antimicrobial therapy. Although there have been reports in the adult population, only a few cases have been reported in neonates from developing countries. The majority of babies have succumbed to this deadly infection. We present three cases of out-born babies with neonatal sepsis, who were critically ill. All three babies recovered and were subsequently discharged.