Fatal neonatal meningitis and ventriculitis caused by multiresistant Achromobacter xylosoxidans. A case report.

Meningitis and ventriculitis in a 6-day-old neonate caused by a Gram-negative glucose-non-fermenting organism, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, was resistant to most antibiotics except ceftazidime and imipenem. The organism became resistant after 28 days treatment with ceftazidime. When the infant was 7 weeks old, imipenem became available but, in spite of 3 days of intravenous treatment, the organism was still recovered from ventricular cerebrospinal fluid and the child died. This would appear to be only the second report of neonatal meningitis caused by this organism.