Bacterial Infections of the Newborn Flashcards
Explain the significance of maternal IgG
Can protect against blood-borne infections for weeks to months after birth
What immune protection can breast feeding help with?
Can protect newborns against pathogens that invade the GI tract via transferring specific immunoglobulins (especially IgA)
What are the unique susceptibilities faced by neonates?
Neonates are not fully immunocompetent until > 2 y.o.
- Poor antibody response to polysaccharides
- Decreased phagocytic capacity
- Lower levels of complement components
What is and what leads to chorioamnionitis?
Inflammatory response that involves the chorionic and amniotic fetal membranes.
Risk increases rapidly when membranes are ruptured more than 12 hours before birth.
Three ays we classify infection time periods
- Natal/perinatal
- Congenital
- Post natal
Distinguish these.
Natal - acquired during delivery usually from the genital tract
Congenital - Any time before or after birth
Postnatal - acquired after delivery and up through first 4 weeks of life
For the millionth time, and don’t worry because I get these mixed up all the time, outline the lab/histo findings for Group B Strep
- Gram positive
- cocci, often in chains
- Beta hemolytic
- Bacitracin resistant
Out of newborns, infants, children, adults, who gets Group B Strep and why? What else does this group get?
Newborns because GBS is found in the vaginal canal in 40% of women.
Also:
- E. Coli
- Listeria monocytogenes
What bacteria do infants get?
- Neisseria meningitidis
- H. Influenza
- Strep Pneumoniae
What bacteria do children get?
- N. Meningitidis like in infants
- Strep Pneumoniae like in infants
What bacteria do adults get?
- S. Pneumoniae like infants and children
- N. Meningitidis like in infants and children
- Mycobacteria
Discuss the lab findings for E. Coli K1
- Gram negative
- Rod
- Ferments lactose
- Contains K1 - Sialic acid capsule that is antiphagocytic and not recognized as foreign so antibodies are not made against it
Discuss the lab findings for listeria monocytogenes and how we usually come across it
- Gram positive rod
- catalase and CAMP test positive
- Usually from food like hot dogs or cold meats or unpasteurized cheese
Infection in pregnant women can lead to miscarriage or still birth
Discuss the lab findings for Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
- Gram negative
- Diplococcus
- Oxidase positive
- Need enriched chocolate agar to grow
Gonorrhoeae presentation
Lid edema, erythema, and purulent discharge (severe conjunctivitis) in neonate born vaginally of infected mother.
Note: bilateral; appears 3-5 days after birth (incubation period)
Clinical presentation of congenital chlamydia
Can cause conjunctivitis and pneumonia in newborn
– the incubation period is 5 to 12 days.
– clinical features include unilateral conjunctivitis and concomitant otitis media or pneumonia
