Neonatal meningitis

Neonatal meningitis is a serious, life-threatening infection characterized by inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord in infants within the first 28 days of life It typically arises from hematogenous dissemination following maternal vertical transmission during labor and delivery or via postnatal nosocomial or community exposure, commonly involving pathogens such as Group B *Streptococcus*, *Escherichia coli*, or *Listeria monocytogenes* Pathophysiologically, pathogen ...

Neonatal meningitis is a serious, life-threatening infection characterized by inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord in infants within the first 28 days of life It typically arises from hematogenous dissemination following maternal vertical transmission during labor and delivery or via postnatal nosocomial or community exposure, commonly involving pathogens such as Group B *Streptococcus*, *Escherichia coli*, or *Listeria monocytogenes*

It typically arises from hematogenous dissemination following maternal vertical transmission during labor and delivery or via postnatal nosocomial or community exposure, commonly involving pathogens such as Group B *Streptococcus*, *Escherichia coli*, or *Listeria monocytogenes*

Pathophysiologically, pathogen entry across the immature blood-brain barrier triggers an inflammatory cascade within the cerebrospinal fluid, leading to cerebral edema, altered intracranial dynamics, and potential neuronal injury

Clinical presentation is often subtle and nonspecific, marked by temperature instability, lethargy, poor feeding, apnea, irritability, a bulging fontanelle, or seizures rather than classic signs of meningeal irritation

Clinical presentation is often subtle and nonspecific, marked by temperature instability, lethargy, poor feeding, apnea, irritability, a bulging fontanelle, or seizures rather than classic signs of meningeal irritation