Abstract
Neonatal liver abscess is a very rare condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. There seems to be an increasing trend of this rare condition amongst the newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units. We report a case of liver abscess in a premature newborn and briefly review the literature and discuss its management.
Highlights
Neonatal liver abscess could be idiopathic, or secondary to umbilical infections due to umbilical vein catheterization or to sepsis which are reported to be the most common predisposing factors
Correction of the predisposing factor, open or percutaneous drainage of the abscess, and appropriate antibiotic treatment directed at the causative agent is expected to be curative
Especially in developing countries, liver abscesses in preterm neonates are still associated with a high mortality rate of up to 50%, even with appropriate care and treatment [2]
Summary
Neonatal liver abscess could be idiopathic, or secondary to umbilical infections due to umbilical vein catheterization or to sepsis which are reported to be the most common predisposing factors. Other predisposing factors include central total parenteral nutrition (TPN) catheters, necrotizing enterocolitis, umbilical and gall-bladder or liver surgery, prematurity, and neutrophil defects [1,2]. Diagnosis of a liver abscess in a septic neonate requires a high index of suspicion.
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