Post Infectious Multicystic Encephalomalacia

The term multicystic encephalomalacia is used to describe the presence of necrosis areas that turn into cystic lesions inside the brain. It is usually seen in the first year of life. We describe a case of a newborn with a large occipital encephalocele surgically treated. He complicated with Staphylococcus aureus meningoencephalitis that was treated with Vancomycin. Control computed tomography twenty-four days after surgery showed significant multicystic encephalomalacia, which is a uncommonly rapid progression, since it usually takes months for a complete cystic degeneration. The pathophysiological mechanism that we propose is a direct aggression of the bacterial infection and a disturb of the brain perfusion. Secondary to a Staphylococcus aureus infection stablished a severe infection of CNS inducing a disrupt in the vascular autoregulation. Multicystic encephalomalacia is an uncommon disease of the childhood and has a very poor outcome, early diagnosis is very important for family counseling.