Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41039290›Full record

ReviewBMC pediatrics2025

Neonatal pneumocephalus secondary to meningitis: a case report and literature review.

Zongtai Feng, Zuming Yang, Lirong Shen, Jingjing Gao, Yan Cai, Meiying Zhu, Lili Li, Chuchu Gao, Yanan Wang

Abstract readCase ReportsReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in BMC pediatrics, 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

9 authors.

Zongtai Feng *Department of Neonatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Zuming Yang *Department of Neonatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Lirong ShenDepartment of Neonatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Jingjing GaoDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Yan CaiDepartment of Neonatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Meiying ZhuDepartment of Neonatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Lili LiDepartment of Neonatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Chuchu GaoDepartment of Neonatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. ccgao@njmu.edu.cn.
Yanan WangDepartment of Neonatology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. wangyn1980@163.com.

Funding

Gusu School Program GSKY20230201Gusu School Program GSKY20240808Jiangsu Medical Association Pediatric Medical Research Special Fund Project Grant SYH-32034-0103(2024007)Suzhou Science and Education Strong Health Project QNXM2024044
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPneumocephalus secondary to meningitis is very rare in newborns. Early identification of this disease is challenging, and its prognosis is very poor. However, there is limited information about the management of neonatal pneumocephalus. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report a case of pneumocephalus secondary to meningitis in an 8‑day‑old female newborn and conduct a literature review on reported cases of neonatal pneumocephalus to date. This neonate presented with fever, irritability, and poor feeding. Enterobacter cloacae grew in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood cultures, and pneumocephalus was detected by a computed tomography (CT) brain scan. The neonate died due to worsening pneumocephalus despite receiving active antibiotic treatment and supportive management. Among the 12 reported cases, the most common initial symptoms were poor feeding, lethargy, and abnormal body temperature, and CSF culture was positive in 11 cases, of which 5 were caused by Citrobacter koseri, 4 were caused by Enterobacter cloacae, 1 was caused by Proteus mirabilis, and 1 was caused by Acinetobacter baumannii. All patients had pneumocephalus according to CT brain scans. Treatment mainly included the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics and supportive management. Twelve infants died, and the only surviving infant suffered from severe neurodevelopmental disorders.

conclusionIncreased awareness of neonatal pneumocephalus among neonatologists, vigilant monitoring and prompt changes to sensitive antibiotics guided by susceptibility testing may be beneficial for improving the clinical prognosis of the disease.

Indexed as

MeningitisMeningitis, BacterialPneumocephalusAnti-Bacterial AgentsEnterobacter cloacaeEnterobacteriaceae InfectionsFatal OutcomeFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornTomography, X-Ray ComputedAnti-Bacterial AgentsCitrobacter KoseriEnterobacter cloacaeGas-producing organismsNeonatePneumocephalus

Identifiers

PMID41039290
PMCPMC12492685

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Registered trials

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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.