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Perinatal group B streptococcal infection
ABSTRACTS O F ANNUAL MEETING
1974
67
PERINATAL GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTION
MASON, G. H. National Women’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand A study based on isolation of group B /Ihaemolytic streptococci in neonates coming to post mortem has confirmed other reports of a dramatic increase in the prevalence of this organism over the last few years. When cases with positive lung isolation, pneumonia and gram-positive cocci in the lung sections are compared over the two periods, 1967-70and 1971-73, there has been a tenfold increase from a mean annual rate of 0.75 to 7.3 (P < 0.1). Thirty-three cases were reviewed in which there was a positive isolation and evidence of a pneumonia. There were 2 cases with septicaemia, and meningitis was present in 2. All stillbirths showed evidence of amnionitis which supports the concept that the acute form of Group B sepsis is acquired in labour or during parturition, from either the liquor or the lower genital tract. Antemortem Group B isolates were made from 11 infants.
A survey in progress has shown vaginal colonization by Group B in 10% of pregnant women. In this series of neonates there were 4 maternal isolates of Group B and the mean survival of these was 18 h. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy the lethal course of this infection was apparently not altered. It has now become a major cause of death due to bacterial infection in the perinatal period at National Women’s Hospital.
1974
67
PERINATAL GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTION
MASON, G. H. National Women’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand A study based on isolation of group B /Ihaemolytic streptococci in neonates coming to post mortem has confirmed other reports of a dramatic increase in the prevalence of this organism over the last few years. When cases with positive lung isolation, pneumonia and gram-positive cocci in the lung sections are compared over the two periods, 1967-70and 1971-73, there has been a tenfold increase from a mean annual rate of 0.75 to 7.3 (P < 0.1). Thirty-three cases were reviewed in which there was a positive isolation and evidence of a pneumonia. There were 2 cases with septicaemia, and meningitis was present in 2. All stillbirths showed evidence of amnionitis which supports the concept that the acute form of Group B sepsis is acquired in labour or during parturition, from either the liquor or the lower genital tract. Antemortem Group B isolates were made from 11 infants.
A survey in progress has shown vaginal colonization by Group B in 10% of pregnant women. In this series of neonates there were 4 maternal isolates of Group B and the mean survival of these was 18 h. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy the lethal course of this infection was apparently not altered. It has now become a major cause of death due to bacterial infection in the perinatal period at National Women’s Hospital.