[Long-term sequelae of neonatal group B streptococcal septicemia/meningitis (author's transl)]

In recent years group B streptococci accounted for nearly 40% of all cases of neonatal septicemia in our intensive-care-unit. Nineteen of 38 babies did not survive the acute illness (mortality 50%). Six of 18 surviving children showed abnormalities related to the septicemia/meningitis (morbidity 33%). The severity of chronic complications ranged from minor neurological problems to marked retardation, deafness, blindness, and epilepsy. In our series there seemed to be a relation between the severity of complications during the acute illness (meningitis, convulsions), and later neurological sequelae. Early detection and early treatment were found to be most important for the final outcome.