GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCUS - COMMONEST PATHOGEN IN SEVERE NEONATAL SEPSIS

During the period January 1972-June 1977, severe infection was diagnosed bacteriologically in 15 neonates. Thirteen of the babies were born in St Thomas' Hospital giving an incidence of severe sepsis of 0·93 per 1000 live births and two were born elsewhere. Eight of the 15 infants died. Ten infants were infected with Group B streptococci, three with Escherichia coli, and one each with Haemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pyogenes. Group B streptococcus was therefore the commonest pathogen causing severe neonatal sepsis during this period. © 1979 The British Society for the Study of Infection.