Introduction: Bacille Calmette-Gué rin (BCG), an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, is a rare cause of infection, with few published cases in immunocompetent individuals. Case presentation: We present the case of a cutaneous abscess in an immunocompetent infant returning from Morocco, where he received a BCG vaccination. The abscess developed at the site of inoculation in the forearm (a non-recommended site) in the absence of lymphadenopathy or systemic signs. The lesion did not recur after aspiration of the abscess and further treatment was not required. Conclusion: Infections caused by M. bovis BCG may be difficult to diagnose without systemic signs or lymphadenopathy but should be suspected in children returning from regions where BCG vaccination is widely applied. The present report suggests that abscess formation after BCG vaccination is a continuing problem, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic areas and when recommendations concerning dosage or injection techniques are not followed. Moreover, we highlight here the importance of combining phenotypic and genotypic methods for quick identification of Mycobacterium bovis BCG in abscess drainage fluids.

Post-Mortem Microbiology (PMM) aims to detect infections that could be a cause of stillbirth. A newborn having no sign of life after delivery is defined as stillbirth. Different infections could cause a chain of events leading to stillbirth but the relationships between maternal infection and stillbirth are often not very clear; as a matter of fact, the positive serologic tests do not prove causality. Screening, prevention, and treatment of maternal infections are important to reduce the stillbirth risk. The identification of an infectious agent that causes stillbirth through PMM is a shared aim by microbiologists, pathologists and surgeons, and it is also the common goal in clinical and forensic autopsies. The aim of this paper is a review the major infections that lead to stillbirths.

Meningitis remains a worldwide problem and Central nervous system (CNS) infections are associated with devastating sequelae, including cognitive deficits, vision and hearing impairment, motor and sensory deficits and epilepsy in over one-half of survivors. Rapid diagnosis of meningitis is essential to improve chances at survival and minimize unnecessary healthcare costs related to isolation procedures and empiric treatment. Multiplex molecular assays are an attractive option for the simultaneous detection of several microbial targets. Currently, several assays are marketed. The aim of our review is to comprehensively evaluate the molecular available systems of using a new multiplex PCR panel in determining the microbiologic etiologies of meningitis.

Postmortem microbiology may be important to determine the cause of the death. We report a case study of <em>Klebsiella</em> <em>pneumoniae</em> meningitis where the lack of sampling standardization and poor knowledge of this tool could affect medical-legal investigation.