Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39841254›Full record

ArticlePediatric radiology2025

Diagnostic imaging of Bacillus cereus brain infection in newborns.

Benjamin Feferman, Valentina Fernandez, Elsa Tavernier, Julie Fuseau, Catherine Sembély-Taveau, Ronan Boennec, Agathe Cremades, Zoha Maakaroun-Vermesse, Christelle Follet, Delphine Mitanchez and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Benjamin FefermanPediatric Radiology Department, CHRU of Tours, Clocheville Hospital, 49 Boulevard Beranger, 37000, Tours, France.
Valentina FernandezPediatric Radiology Department, CHRU of Tours, Clocheville Hospital, 49 Boulevard Beranger, 37000, Tours, France.
Elsa TavernierMethods in Patient-Centered Outcomes and Health Research, INSERM CIC 1415 and Université de Tours Et Nantes, Tours, France.ORCID 0000-0003-0798-1182
Julie FuseauPediatric Radiology Department, CHRU of Tours, Clocheville Hospital, 49 Boulevard Beranger, 37000, Tours, France.
Catherine Sembély-TaveauPediatric Radiology Department, CHRU of Tours, Clocheville Hospital, 49 Boulevard Beranger, 37000, Tours, France.
Ronan BoennecPediatric Radiology Department, CHRU of Tours, Clocheville Hospital, 49 Boulevard Beranger, 37000, Tours, France.
Agathe CremadesPediatric Department, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France.
Zoha Maakaroun-VermessePediatric Department, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France.
Christelle FolletNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Bretonneau Hospital, François Rabelais University, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France.
Delphine MitanchezNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Bretonneau Hospital, François Rabelais University, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France.
Philippe LanotteDepartment of Bacteriology-Virology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France.
Cécile Le BrunDepartment of Bacteriology-Virology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France.
Laurent BrunereauPediatric Radiology Department, CHRU of Tours, Clocheville Hospital, 49 Boulevard Beranger, 37000, Tours, France.
Laurent MereghettiDepartment of Bacteriology-Virology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France.
Baptiste MorelPediatric Radiology Department, CHRU of Tours, Clocheville Hospital, 49 Boulevard Beranger, 37000, Tours, France. baptiste.morel@univ-tours.fr.ORCID 0000-0003-4747-3393

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCerebral infection with the opportunistic pathogen Bacillus cereus can lead to severe lesions, especially in premature newborns. Early diagnosis would be highly beneficial. The aim of this study was to describe the imaging findings associated with B. cereus infections. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe included all newborns with a positive B. cereus blood culture and transfontanellar ultrasound between 2012 and 2022 at the Tours University Hospital. Imaging was assessed by both a junior and a senior radiologist to differentiate between hemorrhages, leukomalacia, and lesions attributed to B. cereus.

resultsNineteen patients were enrolled (12 girls), of whom 18 were premature. Three patients did not survive. Six patients had normal ultrasound and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Thirteen patients had ultrasound-detected lesions: 7 hemorrhages, 1 case of leukomalacia, 1 focal ischemic lesion, and 5 lesions attributed to B. cereus. The B. cereus lesions appeared as irregular (5/5), bilateral (4/5), asymmetric (5/5), and hyperechoic patches in the subcortical white matter. They were extensive, asynchronous, and rapidly progressive over a few days (central necrosis with peripheral enhancement, referred to as the "bear scratch sign"), while respecting the cortex and basal ganglia.

conclusionThe presence of rapidly evolving white matter lesions should raise suspicion of B. cereus infection in newborns' brains. Imaging plays a crucial role in estimating the progression of this pathology.

Indexed as

Bacillus cereusBrain DiseasesGram-Positive Bacterial InfectionsMagnetic Resonance ImagingBrainDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMaleRetrospective StudiesUltrasonographyBacillus cereusBrainMagnetic resonance imagingNewbornPremature

Identifiers

PMID39841254

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.