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Suggest Treatment For Elizabethkingia Meningoseptica Infectionin In Infants

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Posted on Thu, 12 Mar 2015
Question: My 6.5 months old son suffered from cough and cold for 1 month i.e from 29/12/2014 but he got fever on 28/01/2015. Pediatrician prescribed medicines and he did not get fever for 1.5 days but on 30/01/2015 evening he started getting fever again and the body temperature went up to 103F on 31/01/2015(morining) and the doctor decided to get him admitted on 31/01/2015 and he was treated and got discharged on 02/02/2015(morning) with follow-up medications. Now he plays well and his condition is stable but still he has been suffering from barking cough. But yesterday I got a call from the hospital laboratory and asked to collect blood sensitivity report and to meet doctor. I am worried now, what could be the problem. The report says bacterial growth observed and the name of bacteria is "elizabethkingia meningoseptica". I would like to seek advice from you to suggest Why my son has been infected with these bacteria, What precautions do we need to take and How long does it take to get cured from such infections. (PRESCRIPTIONS, DISCHARGE SUMMERY, TEST REPORTS have been attached herewith)
doctor
Answered by Dr. Arun (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
This bacteria usually is acquired from hospital , needs antibiotics

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
I have seen the reports attached.
elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a bacteria which is usually not present in the community or at home.
Mostly it is acquired from hospital through iv lines or oxygen or contact with healthcare person . This can cause serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis.
I think you need to consult your treating doctor as suggested to ruleout if your child is still in need of further medications.
The antibiotics your child was given included ceftriaxone and amikacin.
AMikacin is shown as resistant and ceftriaxone is not shown in the culture report.
This means that maybe the bacteria is still in the blood or lungs.
A clinical and Xray evaluation would identify if he needs appropriate antibiotics or not as per the culture report.
Precautions :
Proper hand washing for both baby and attenders repeatedly.
Duration :
Usually it takes a week to cure this with proper appropriate antibiotics.
Wishing your child good health
Regards
DR XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Arun (5 hours later)
Respected Dr. Sir,

Thank you very much for your reply. We consulted our paediatrician he told to get blood culture and sensitivity report done again to see presence of infection.

He also suggested to wait for the test results rather than starting antibiotic course now because my son has not got fever since 31/01/2015 night.

Did he suffer from pneumonia? What could be the reason behind it ? Because we have had all the vaccination given regularly including 3 iterations of pneumoccocal vaccination (prevenar-13).

How long does it take to recover from the barking cough I would like you to suggest some home remedies such as massaging, giving tulsi cough syrup etc. apart from maintaining proper hygiene.


Thank you

doctor
Answered by Dr. Arun (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
yes you can wait for culture

Detailed Answer:
Yes if baby is well without fever, you can wait for new blood culture.
The discharge summary states the diagnosis as bronchopneumonia.


Pneumococcal vaccine prevents only pneumococcal pneumonia.
Other viral and bacterial pneumonias can.still occur though pneumococcal causes more than one third of severe pneumonias.

Barking cough might last for some time.
It is post infection irritation in the respiratory passages.
This will settle soon.
Giving warm liquids could help
Avoid any other home medicines.
Regards

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Arun

Pediatrician, Pulmonology

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 1966 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Elizabethkingia Meningoseptica Infectionin In Infants

Brief Answer: This bacteria usually is acquired from hospital , needs antibiotics Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for writing to us. I have seen the reports attached. elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a bacteria which is usually not present in the community or at home. Mostly it is acquired from hospital through iv lines or oxygen or contact with healthcare person . This can cause serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis. I think you need to consult your treating doctor as suggested to ruleout if your child is still in need of further medications. The antibiotics your child was given included ceftriaxone and amikacin. AMikacin is shown as resistant and ceftriaxone is not shown in the culture report. This means that maybe the bacteria is still in the blood or lungs. A clinical and Xray evaluation would identify if he needs appropriate antibiotics or not as per the culture report. Precautions : Proper hand washing for both baby and attenders repeatedly. Duration : Usually it takes a week to cure this with proper appropriate antibiotics. Wishing your child good health Regards DR XXXXXXX