Neonatal intracranial abscess: two cases caused by Citrobacter and a literature review.

Intracranial abscesses are uncommon in the newborn. Observation of 2 infants and a review of the literature reveal that the offending organism was a Citrobacter in 12 of the 16 documented cases. In the Neonatal Meningitis Cooperative Study this organism was responsible for meningitis in only 4%. However, an analysis of all published cases of neonatal Citrobacter meningitis reveals a 42% incidence of intracranial abscess. Accordingly, early identification by computerized tomography is important in facilitating prompt surgical therapy.