Invasive Enterobacter sakazakii disease in infants

Abstract

Enterobacter sakazakii kills 40%-80% of infected infants and has been associated with powdered formula. We analyzed 46 cases of invasive infant E. sakazakii infection to define risk factors and guide prevention and treatment. Twelve infants had bacteremia, 33 had meningitis, and 1 had a urinary tract infection. Compared with infants with isolated bacteremia, infants with meningitis had greater birthweight (2,454 g vs. 850 g, p = 0.002) and gestational age (37 weeks vs. 27.8 weeks, p = 0.02), and infection developed at a younger age (6 days vs. 35 days, p<0.001). Among meningitis patients, 11 (33%) had seizures, 7 (21%) had brain abscess, and 14 (42%) died. Twenty-four (92%) of 26 infants with feeding patterns specified were fed powdered formula. Formula samples associated with 15 (68%) of 22 cases yielded E. sakazakii; in 13 cases, clinical and formula strains were indistinguishable. Further clarification of clinical risk factors and improved powdered formula safety is needed.

Figure

Box plot with each box indicating range (vertical lines), first and third quartiles (lower and upper boundaries of box, respectively), and median value (horizontal solid line) for gestational age in weeks, birth weight in grams, and age of onset in days for infants with bacteremia only or meningitis. The dotted lines indicate median values for all cases. *Significantly different values (α = 0.05) between groups.