Polymicrobial Bacteremia Due to Polle Syndrome: The Child Abuse Variant of Munchausen by Proxy

Abstract
Infectious disease due to multiple organisms results from underlying disease or invasive procedures and is uncommon in the pediatric age group. A case of polymicrobial bacteremia in an infant in whom no underlying disease was substantiated, despite extensive evaluation, is reported. The presence of Polle syndrome, an adult-induced illness, was subsequently proved. This diagnosis should be considered early in the evaluation of children for whom repeated blood culturing indicates polymicrobial bacteremia.