Macrococcus caseolyticus in early-onset neonatal sepsis, Kassala, Sudan

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis, a clinical syndrome characterized by systemic signs of infection in newborn infants (< 28 days old), are a significant cause of neonatal mortality and long-term morbidity globally, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. Case presentation: We report th...

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Main Authors: Abdualmoneim O Musa, Antonella Santona, Mohamed AA Desogi, Maura Fiamma, Ali Adam, Duaa H Ibrahim, Faiza A Hajedriss, Fatima A Almake, Mahmoud T Faki, Mohamed I Awadap, Elisa Taviani, Salvatore Rubino, Bianca Paglietti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/21090
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author Abdualmoneim O Musa
Antonella Santona
Mohamed AA Desogi
Maura Fiamma
Ali Adam
Duaa H Ibrahim
Faiza A Hajedriss
Fatima A Almake
Mahmoud T Faki
Mohamed I Awadap
Elisa Taviani
Salvatore Rubino
Bianca Paglietti
author_facet Abdualmoneim O Musa
Antonella Santona
Mohamed AA Desogi
Maura Fiamma
Ali Adam
Duaa H Ibrahim
Faiza A Hajedriss
Fatima A Almake
Mahmoud T Faki
Mohamed I Awadap
Elisa Taviani
Salvatore Rubino
Bianca Paglietti
author_sort Abdualmoneim O Musa
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Neonatal sepsis, a clinical syndrome characterized by systemic signs of infection in newborn infants (< 28 days old), are a significant cause of neonatal mortality and long-term morbidity globally, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. Case presentation: We report the first case of neonatal sepsis caused by Macrococcus caseolyticus in a 48-hours old newborn who attended to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Kassala Specialized Hospital for Pediatrics in Sudan, with signs of severe bacterial infection. M. caseolyticus is an opportunistic pathogen normally associated with veterinary and food-borne infections. Empirical antibiotic therapy was promptly initiated following blood sampling and culture, resulting in recovery within 4 days. M. caseolyticus was identified by mass spectrometry and confirmed by whole genome sequencing. The isolated strain, KaM20, was resistant to tetracycline, due to the presence of the tet(L) gene; and harbored several virulence-associated genes. Phylogenetic analysis including M. caseolyticus genomes from the GenBank suggested an animal origin for KaM20. Conclusions: This case presents a rare instance of neonatal sepsis caused by M. caseolyticus; indicating potential zoonotic transmission of this pathogen, through maternal or environmental exposure to animals in the rural household. The findings emphasize the need for increased awareness of zoonotic infections in neonatal care, particularly in regions where exposure to animals is common; and underscore the importance of understanding the complex interplay between host factors, environmental exposures, and microbial pathogens, in the development of neonatal sepsis; reinforcing the need of a 'One Health' approach in addressing emerging infectious diseases.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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spelling doaj-art-e489f4fbef0748f0a65f3b250b6e439c2025-08-20T03:52:43ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802025-03-01190310.3855/jidc.21090Macrococcus caseolyticus in early-onset neonatal sepsis, Kassala, SudanAbdualmoneim O Musa0Antonella Santona1Mohamed AA Desogi2Maura Fiamma3Ali Adam4Duaa H Ibrahim5Faiza A Hajedriss6Fatima A Almake7Mahmoud T Faki8Mohamed I Awadap9Elisa Taviani10Salvatore Rubino11Bianca Paglietti12Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Kassala, Kassala, SudanDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Kassala, Kassala, SudanLaboratories Analisi, Ospedale "San Francesco", ASSL 08100 Nuoro, ItalyPublic Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Kassala State, Kassala, SudanDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Kassala, Kassala, SudanDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Kassala, Kassala, SudanDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Kassala, Kassala, SudanPublic Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Kassala State, Kassala, SudanPublic Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Kassala State, Kassala, SudanEarth Department, Environmental and Life Sciences, DISTAV, University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy Introduction: Neonatal sepsis, a clinical syndrome characterized by systemic signs of infection in newborn infants (< 28 days old), are a significant cause of neonatal mortality and long-term morbidity globally, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. Case presentation: We report the first case of neonatal sepsis caused by Macrococcus caseolyticus in a 48-hours old newborn who attended to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Kassala Specialized Hospital for Pediatrics in Sudan, with signs of severe bacterial infection. M. caseolyticus is an opportunistic pathogen normally associated with veterinary and food-borne infections. Empirical antibiotic therapy was promptly initiated following blood sampling and culture, resulting in recovery within 4 days. M. caseolyticus was identified by mass spectrometry and confirmed by whole genome sequencing. The isolated strain, KaM20, was resistant to tetracycline, due to the presence of the tet(L) gene; and harbored several virulence-associated genes. Phylogenetic analysis including M. caseolyticus genomes from the GenBank suggested an animal origin for KaM20. Conclusions: This case presents a rare instance of neonatal sepsis caused by M. caseolyticus; indicating potential zoonotic transmission of this pathogen, through maternal or environmental exposure to animals in the rural household. The findings emphasize the need for increased awareness of zoonotic infections in neonatal care, particularly in regions where exposure to animals is common; and underscore the importance of understanding the complex interplay between host factors, environmental exposures, and microbial pathogens, in the development of neonatal sepsis; reinforcing the need of a 'One Health' approach in addressing emerging infectious diseases. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/21090neonatal sepsisMacrococcus caseolyticusKassala
spellingShingle Abdualmoneim O Musa
Antonella Santona
Mohamed AA Desogi
Maura Fiamma
Ali Adam
Duaa H Ibrahim
Faiza A Hajedriss
Fatima A Almake
Mahmoud T Faki
Mohamed I Awadap
Elisa Taviani
Salvatore Rubino
Bianca Paglietti
Macrococcus caseolyticus in early-onset neonatal sepsis, Kassala, Sudan
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
neonatal sepsis
Macrococcus caseolyticus
Kassala
title Macrococcus caseolyticus in early-onset neonatal sepsis, Kassala, Sudan
title_full Macrococcus caseolyticus in early-onset neonatal sepsis, Kassala, Sudan
title_fullStr Macrococcus caseolyticus in early-onset neonatal sepsis, Kassala, Sudan
title_full_unstemmed Macrococcus caseolyticus in early-onset neonatal sepsis, Kassala, Sudan
title_short Macrococcus caseolyticus in early-onset neonatal sepsis, Kassala, Sudan
title_sort macrococcus caseolyticus in early onset neonatal sepsis kassala sudan
topic neonatal sepsis
Macrococcus caseolyticus
Kassala
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/21090
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