Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B from Urine in a 74-Day-Old Infant: A Case Report

Siapika, Argyro; Kolonitsiou, Fevronia; Bellou, Venetia; Gkentzi, Despoina; Giormezis, Nikolaos

doi:10.3390/microorganisms14091977

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Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B from Urine in a 74-Day-Old Infant: A Case Report

by

Argyro Siapika

¹

,

Fevronia Kolonitsiou

¹

,

Venetia Bellou

²,

Despoina Gkentzi

²

and

Nikolaos Giormezis

^1,*

¹

Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece

²

Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Microorganisms 2026, 14(9), 1977; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14091977

Submission received: 11 August 2026 / Revised: 27 August 2026 / Accepted: 5 September 2026 / Published: 7 September 2026

(This article belongs to the Section Medical Microbiology)

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Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of invasive bacterial disease in infancy, usually presenting as meningitis and/or septicemia. Initial isolation of this organism from urine is exceptionally rare, particularly in young infants. We report a 74-day-old previously healthy infant who presented with fever without an apparent source. Urine obtained by sterile suprapubic aspiration unexpectedly grew N. meningitidis serogroup B. Blood culture subsequently confirmed invasive meningococcal disease, whereas cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and multiplex PCR were negative despite pathologic CSF findings. The urinary isolate was therefore interpreted as probable secondary hematogenous seeding rather than primary urinary tract infection. The patient received ceftriaxone, with temporary escalation to meropenem because of persistent fever; neuroimaging excluded intracranial complications. Complement screening (50% hemolytic complement, CH50) was normal, and the infant recovered fully. This case illustrates an unusual microbiological presentation of probable invasive meningococcal disease, and highlights the importance of promptly interpreting unexpected culture results in febrile young infants.

Keywords: Neisseria meningitidis; serogroup B; invasive meningococcal disease; infant; urine culture; bacteremia; cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis

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MDPI and ACS Style

Siapika, A.; Kolonitsiou, F.; Bellou, V.; Gkentzi, D.; Giormezis, N. Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B from Urine in a 74-Day-Old Infant: A Case Report. Microorganisms 2026, 14, 1977. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14091977

AMA Style

Siapika A, Kolonitsiou F, Bellou V, Gkentzi D, Giormezis N. Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B from Urine in a 74-Day-Old Infant: A Case Report. Microorganisms. 2026; 14(9):1977. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14091977

Chicago/Turabian Style

Siapika, Argyro, Fevronia Kolonitsiou, Venetia Bellou, Despoina Gkentzi, and Nikolaos Giormezis. 2026. "Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B from Urine in a 74-Day-Old Infant: A Case Report" Microorganisms 14, no. 9: 1977. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14091977

APA Style

Siapika, A., Kolonitsiou, F., Bellou, V., Gkentzi, D., & Giormezis, N. (2026). Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B from Urine in a 74-Day-Old Infant: A Case Report. Microorganisms, 14(9), 1977. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14091977

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Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B from Urine in a 74-Day-Old Infant: A Case Report

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