[Puerperal streptococcal sepsis]

A series of 8 cases of puerperal sepsis caused by beta-haemolytic Streptococcus from group A is analysed, including two cases of death--of a mother and her newborn. Among the women in seven cases serotype 2 of beta-haemolytic Streptococcus from group A has been identified. The cases have been observed in the Delivery department as a result of the existing favorable conditions for the transmission of the infection. Most probably among these conditions are the negligence of the sterility of the obstetric service from the moment of admission in the ward as well as the possibility for personal contacts among the patients after delivery. The late diagnosis (after two cases of death--of a newborn and a mother) can be attributed to the atypical clinical course of the disease as well as to the negligence of the existing relatively simple methods for early diagnosis. Among the mothers in two of the cases after radical surgical treatment combined with antibiotics and in all the others--after the application of high doses of antibiotics alone, the septic conditions has been overcome. The authors stress on the existing possibilities for the development of streptococcal sepsis in the era of the effective treatment of infections caused by this agent with antibiotics and once more underline the role of the penicillins in cases of septic streptococcal infections.