NEONATAL SEPSIS DUE TO STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE

A 20-year-old primigravida in the 33rd week of gestation was delivered of a girl weighing 1790 g 23 h after spontaneous rupture of the membranes. 13 h after birth, the child showed signs of shock. Cultures of blood, conjunctiva and nasopharyngeal aspirate grew Streptococcus pneumoniae of serotype 11. Cultures from the mother's cervix and from the placenta and membranes also grew S. pneumoniae of the same serotype. The infant responded well to ampicillin and netilmicin. The early-onset pneumococcal septicemic cases reported over the last 20 years are reviewed. © 1990 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.