Mycoplasma hominis Meningitis Diagnosed by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in a Preterm Newborn: a Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Mycoplasma hominis is mainly colonized in the genital tract and vertically transmitted to newborns; however, it rarely causes neonatal meningitis. We report a case of M. hominis meningitis in a premature infant. She was admitted to our hospital for treatment after 6 days of repeated fever. After admission, repeated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed that leukocytes and protein in CSF increased substantially and glucose decreased, but there was no growth in conventional CSF culture. The patient was diagnosed with M. hominis meningitis by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). The antibiotic therapy used for the neonate was meropenem, vancomycin, and ampicillin against bacterial infection and azithromycin against mycoplasma infection. The child was subsequently considered cured and discharged from the hospital and followed up regularly in the neurology clinic. The mNGS may be a promising and effective diagnostic technique for identifying uncommon pathogens of meningitis in patients with meningitis symptoms and signs without microbial growth in routine CSF culture.

Keywords: mycoplasma hominis; case report; cerebrospinal fluid; meningitis; metagenomic next-generation sequencing; preterm.