Massive pneumatosis without necrosis: A case report of Clostridium perfringens sepsis in an extremely low birth weight infant

Abstract. Pneumatosis intestinalis and free intraperitoneal air on abdominal radiographs are considered pathognomonic signs of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We report a unique case of late-onset fulminant sepsis due to Clostridium perfringens presenting with shock, extensive pneumatosis intestinalis and free intraperitoneal air in an extremely low birth weight infant without histopathological evidence of bowel necrosis or NEC.

*Corresponding Author: 

Corresponding author: Fayez Bany-Mohammed, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of California Irvine, 101 The City Drive South, Building 56, Suite 600, Orange, 92868 CA, USA. Tel.: +1 714 456 6933; Fax: +1 714 456 7658;fbanymoh@uci.edu.