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Group C streptococcal infection in a term newborn infant
R G Faix1, E I Soskolne, R E Schumacher
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Summary
Group C streptococci can cause serious infections in newborns, even when mothers receive antibiotics during labor. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is crucial for diagnosing sepsis in infants exposed to maternal antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal infections
- Bacterial pathogenesis
- Clinical microbiology
Background:
- Chorioamnionitis is a common pregnancy complication.
- Intrapartum antibiotic therapy is standard for chorioamnionitis.
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of neonatal sepsis.
Observation:
- A term infant presented with sepsis symptoms.
- Group C streptococci were isolated from the infant's cerebrospinal fluid.
- The infant's mother received intrapartum antibiotics for chorioamnionitis.
Findings:
- Beta-hemolytic streptococci, other than Group A or B, can cause invasive infections in neonates.
- Group C streptococci can be isolated from normally sterile sites like cerebrospinal fluid.
- Maternal antibiotic exposure did not prevent neonatal sepsis in this case.
Implications:
- Group C streptococci should be considered potential pathogens in neonatal sepsis.
- Cerebrospinal fluid sampling is vital for diagnosing sepsis in symptomatic infants with suspected exposure to maternal antimicrobials.
- This case challenges assumptions about antibiotic prophylaxis efficacy against all beta-hemolytic streptococci.