Mixed bacterial and fungal meningitis in a neonate.

Mixed infections of the central nervous system occurring in children without underlying neurological disease may be more frequent than previously suspected. In this case report, a neonate whose cerebrospinal fluid culture at 24 hours showed group B streptococcus only, was found on postmortem examination at six days of age to have disseminated candidiasis with cerebral abscesses. The degree of systemic involvement in this newborn suggested intra-uterine acquired candidiasis. Early diagnosis of polymicrobic infections is difficult, but this case suggests it should be considered in patients not responding to antibiotic therapy.