Central Nervous System Infections in Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy: A Systematic Review of Autopsy-Based Pediatric Pathology.

IF 0.8 4区医学 Q4 PATHOLOGY

Fetal and Pediatric Pathology Pub Date : 2026-08-28 DOI:10.1080/15513815.2026.2722660

Jessika Camatti, Anna Laura Santunione, Rossana Cecchi, Edoardo Carretto, Erjon Radheshi, Maria Paola Bonasoni

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) remains a major challenge in pediatric and forensic medicine. While infections are recognized contributors, the specific role of central nervous system (CNS) infections identified at autopsy has not been systematically evaluated.

Materials and methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus were searched without a lower publication-date restriction through 6 April 2026. Studies reporting cases of SUDI associated with CNS infection were included.

Results: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. A wide range of pathogens was identified. CNS involvement ranged from severe necrotizing meningoencephalitis to mild leptomeningeal inflammation associated with systemic infection. While some infections were diagnosed only during postmortem investigation, others occurred in infants with preceding clinical manifestations.

Conclusions: CNS infectious pathology represents a heterogeneous autopsy-detected contributor to SUDI, ranging from clearly causal infections to findings whose precise contribution to death remains uncertain.

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婴儿猝死的中枢神经系统感染：基于尸检的儿科病理学系统综述。

婴儿猝死（SUDI）仍然是儿科和法医学的主要挑战。虽然感染是公认的贡献者，但在尸检中发现的中枢神经系统（CNS）感染的具体作用尚未得到系统评估。材料和方法：按照PRISMA 2020指南进行系统评价。检索PubMed/MEDLINE和Scopus，没有较低的出版日期限制，截止到2026年4月6日。研究报告了SUDI与中枢神经系统感染相关的病例。结果：16项研究符合纳入标准。鉴定出各种各样的病原体。中枢神经系统受累范围从严重坏死性脑膜脑炎到与全身感染相关的轻度轻脑膜炎。虽然有些感染仅在死后调查中诊断出来，但其他感染发生在具有先前临床表现的婴儿中。结论：中枢神经系统感染病理学代表了尸检检测到的SUDI的异质性因素，范围从明确的因果感染到对死亡的确切贡献仍不确定的发现。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Fetal and Pediatric Pathology 医学-病理学

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Fetal and Pediatric Pathology is an established bimonthly international journal that publishes data on diseases of the developing embryo, newborns, children, and adolescents. The journal publishes original and review articles and reportable case reports. The expanded scope of the journal encompasses molecular basis of genetic disorders; molecular basis of diseases that lead to implantation failures; molecular basis of abnormal placentation; placentology and molecular basis of habitual abortion; intrauterine development and molecular basis of embryonic death; pathogenisis and etiologic factors involved in sudden infant death syndrome; the underlying molecular basis, and pathogenesis of diseases that lead to morbidity and mortality in newborns; prenatal, perinatal, and pediatric diseases and molecular basis of diseases of childhood including solid tumors and tumors of the hematopoietic system; and experimental and molecular pathology.