Spontaneous perforation of the tympanic membrane in the first 10 days of life.

Twelve cases of neonates admitted to the neonatal unit of our hospital, between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2005, because of otorrhea due to spontaneous perforation of the tympanic membrane within the first 10 days of life are presented. Data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Cultures of the middle ear exudate grew PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA in 10, SERRATIA MARCENSCENS in 1, and STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS in 1 neonate.

Meningococcal group A sepsis associated with rare manifestations and complicated by Kawasaki-like disease.

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A septicemia and the development of Kawasaki disease in a 10-month-old male infant are described. The patient also experienced a number of primary/septic manifestations as consequences of the direct infectious assault and secondary/hypersensitivity immune-mediated complications. The present observation indicates an etiological relationship between invasive meningococcal infection group A and Kawasaki disease, an association in favor of superantigen-induced theory for the latter occurrence.

UGT1A1 promoter polymorphism as a predisposing factor of hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates with acute pyelonephritis.

We describe 4 jaundiced neonates with acute pyelonephritis of whom family history was positive for or pointed to Gilbert's syndrome (GS). Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT-1A1), (TA)7 polymorphism, associated with GS was found in these neonates. We suggest that extended (TA)7 promoter, acting as a predisposing factor, contributes substantially to hyperbilirubinaemia seen in a number of neonates with urinary tract infections (UTIs).