Table 1

Multi-organ system failure in the neonate with group B streptococcal septicemia

Organ system
Abnormal findings
Management

Cardiovascular
Cardiogenic and distributive shock; poor perfusion; ejection fraction 54% and fractional shortening 26%
. Highest creatine phosphokinase 1033 U/l and cardiac troponin 0.45 ug/l
Intravenous saline boluses, dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, hydrocortisone, milrinone, vasopressin
Respiratory
Respiratory failure with hypercarbnia and diffuse haziness on chest radiograph
Mechanical ventilation, FiO2 1.0, surfactant, vecuronium
Renal
Passed urine at 10 hours of life; persistent oliguria; anuria 4 days later. Highest creatinine 153 umol/l
Intravenous frusemide; peritoneal dialysis; gentamicin stopped
Septicemic
Group B streptococcus, sensitive to penicillin, isolated on surface swabs, and in baby and mother's blood cultures; highest C-reactive protein 12.9 mg/l
Intravenous penicillin and gentamicin initially; ampicillin; cefotaxime; meropenim and vancomycin empirically; intravenous immunoglobulin
Subsequently on high-dose penicillin and cefotaxime when group B streptococcus and sensitivity were available.
Hematologic
Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy with lowest hemoglobin 8.6 g/dl, thrombocytopenia 13 × 109/l, D-dimer 9735 ng/ml, prothrombin time 60 seconds, and activated plasma thromboplastin time 120 seconds
Packed red cell, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, platelet
Metabolic
Metabolic acidosis (worst pH 6.87), hypoglycemia (glucose 1.0 mmol/l), hypocalcemia (0.63 mmol/l)
Dextrose and NaHCO3 infusion; calcium supplementation
Neurologic
Convulsion
Anticonvulsant
Hepatic
Deranged liver function with worst total bilirubin of 125 umol/l and alanine aminotransferase 574 IU/l
Supportive and treating underlying infection

Hon et al. Italian Journal of Pediatrics 2009 35:10   doi:10.1186/1824-7288-35-10