Infective endocarditis due to Burkholderia cepacia in a neonate: a case report

Burkholderia is a pathogen that is rarely seen in clinical cases. However, this organism is being found more commonly in hospitals.

A female Indonesian newborn was referred to our neonatal intensive care unit because of respiratory distress. The newborn had been delivered the previous night via cesarean section. A physical examination revealed intercostal retractions and weak cry. The newborn’s gestational history was preterm, small for gestational age, and preterm premature ruptured membrane for 14 hours. Continuous positive airway pressure was administered. A multiple-antibiotic regimen consisting of ampicillin-sulbactam, gentamicin, meropenem, and ceftriaxone was initiated. Insertion of a central catheter was performed. The patient’s laboratory results were low blood albumin and globulin, anemia, and leukopenia. A blood culture revealed Burkholderia cepacia that was resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents. A chest x-ray showed infiltrate on both lung fields. Echocardiography showed two vegetations on the tricuspid valve.