Florid Bacillus cereusInfection of the Placenta Associated With Intrauterine Fetal Demise

Bacillus cereusis a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly implicated in foodborne illness but has also become increasingly recognized as a source of serious non-gastrointestinal infections, including sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia. Non-gastrointestinal B. cereusinfections have been identified in children, especially in neonates; however, there are no previously described cases of fetal demise associated with B. cereusplacental infection. We present a case of acute chorioamnionitis-related intrauterine fetal demise of twin A at 17 weeks gestation, noted two days after selective termination of twin B. Histological examination revealed numerous gram-positive bacilli in placental tissue, as well as fetal vasculature, in the setting of severe acute necrotizing chorioamnionitis and subchorionitis, intervillous abscesses, acute villitis, and peripheral acute funisitis. Cultures of maternal blood and placental tissue both yielded growth of B. cereus. This case underscores the importance of B. cereusas a human pathogen, and specifically demonstrates its potential as an agent of severe intraamniotic and placental infection with poor outcomes for the fetus.