Fatal Early-onset Sepsis Caused by Intrauterine Transmission of Serogroup Y Meningococcus

Infections by meningococcal species are extremely rare in the first days of life. We present a fatal case of early-onset sepsis presenting at birth, caused by intrauterine transmission of serogroup Y N. meningitidis, evidenced clinically and histologically by corresponding chorioamnionitis and N. meningitidis-positive amniotic fluid. This case confirms a long-standing suspicion that N. meningitidis can be transmitted in utero.