This report describes a preterm infant hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit who developed Pseudomonas aeruginosa conjunctivitis associated with bacteremia, meningitis, and multiple brain abscesses. P. aeruginosa conjunctivitis can rapidly progress to an invasive eye infection, such as corneal ulceration or endophthalmitis, leading to poor vision or blindness. Progression of this infection may lead to systemic disease. However, as illustrated in this report, P. aeruginosa conjunctivitis may be associated with the development of systemic complications such as bacteremia and meningitis in the absence of invasive eye disease. P. aeruginosa is a relatively common cause of conjunctivitis in hospitalized preterm and low birth weight infants. Given the severity of the ocular and systemic complications of Pseudomonas conjunctivitis, clinicians are reminded that prompt detection and treatment of neonatal conjunctivitis is critical.
CASE REPORTAn infant boy was born by cesarean section at 27 weeks' gestation due to a prolapsed umbilical cord. The infant's birth weight was 910 gm, and Apgar scores were 5 and 6 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively. The infant required mechanical ventilation for treatment of respiratory distress syndrome for the first 11 days of life. On day 12 of life, a purulent conjunctivitis of the right eye was noted and a conjunctival bacterial culture was obtained.On day 13 of life, the infant developed signs and symptoms of septic shock. Physical exam was remarkable for a heart rate of 220 beats per minute, respirations at 40 to 50/min, and blood pressure at 30/20 mm Hg. The infant was lethargic but had normal upper and lower extremity tone. The anterior fontanelle was flat. There was decreased perfusion with cold extremities and delayed capillary refill. This deterioration was accompanied by metabolic acidosis. The white blood cell count was 50,900/mm 3 with 59% segmented neutrophils and 17% band forms. The platelet count was 20,000/mm 3 , and prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times were prolonged at 26.5 seconds and Ͼ2 minutes, respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed a glucose of 22 mg/dl, a protein of 164 mg/dl, 5/mm 3 erythrocytes, and 387/mm 3 leukocytes. Blood, urine, endotracheal secretion, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were obtained. Cranial ultrasonography was normal. Treatment included intravenous fluid boluses, dopamine infusion, mechanical ventilation, and transfusion with packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets. Intravenous ampicillin and ceftriaxone were prescribed. These were subsequently changed to intravenous gentamicin and ceftazidime when Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from blood, endotracheal, and conjunctival cultures. Both eyes were treated with ophthalmic gentamicin ointment.The infant's condition remained poor over the next week. Although his conjunctivitis had resolved, he was still lethargic with poor perfusion. He continued to require mechanical ventilation and pressor support as well as multiple packed red blood cell, pla...