BMC Infect Dis. 2026 Mar 12;26(1):554. doi: 10.1186/s12879-026-13051-w.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Though invasive bacterial infections (IBIs) are rare, they can lead to significant morbidity or mortality in young infants. Internationally, the etiology of IBIs in young infants has been described with some studies showing a decreasing incidence of IBIs due to Group B streptococcus (GBS). The aim of this study was to describe the etiology of IBIs in a Saudi population, and to determine if there is antibiotic mismatch with commonly used empiric antibiotics.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done on all infants 90 days and under who presented to the emergency department at a tertiary care children’s hospital over a 7-year period and were diagnosed with an IBI (bacteremia and/or bacterial meningitis).
RESULTS: A total of 46 young infants were diagnosed with community-acquired IBIs. Twenty-eight (60.9%) had bacteremia and 18 (39.1%) had bacterial meningitis. Overall, gram positive organisms were the causative pathogen in 30 (65.2%) infants; GBS was the most common cause accounting for 15 cases followed by Staphylococcus aureus (4). Amongst the 16 gram negative organisms, the most common isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli (5) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4); 3 harbored extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). Nine patients (19.6%) had a long-term term morbidity from their infection, while 5 (10.9%) died. With common empiric antibiotic regimens, coverage would be provided for 75–80% of the pathogens.
CONCLUSIONS: Community-acquired IBIs are in general rare in young infants, with GBS continuing to be the most common pathogenic organism in our population. Empiric antibiotics of choice in this age group may need to be adjusted especially if there is suspicion of a S. aureus infection or increasing isolates of ESBLs. Further multi-center and prospective studies are needed to assess if the etiology of IBIs is changing in our population and to guide empiric antibiotic coverage.
CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
PMID:41820864 | PMC:PMC12989126 | DOI:10.1186/s12879-026-13051-w