[Neonatal sepsis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae. What should be done?]

Within the common pathogenic flora responsible for neonatal sepsis, streptococci group B (SGB) is the most frequently found etiological agent. The fact that it is a frequent colonizer of the female perigenital area has resulted in a whole host of detection and eradication strategies via preventative measures applied to the pregnant woman to eliminate vertical transmission to the newborn.

We present a revision of SGB sepsis and our protocol based on the intrapartum treatment of those pregnant women with risk factors and the study in the newborn at risk of infection with early detection of particles of Latex in urine for SGB (Slidex Strepto B bioMerieux), as well as the customary analytical and bacteriological tests. We have also revised the different strategies in medical scientific publications and several neonatal units for the management of this infection and compare this with our protocol.

During the period 1986-1996 the incidence of SGB sepsis was 0.9/1,000 (19 cases), with an incidence of neonatal sepsis of 4.08/1,000. The incidence of sepsis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae in our environment is low, although it has increased from 15.9% to 28% comparing the first five years with the following six years, with a fatality rate of 10.5%. We believe that the most effective strategy for this problem is intrapartum identification and treatment of the pregnant woman at risk and early diagnosis of the newborn resulting from this pregnancy.

We based our strategy on two vias, intrapartum treatment of mothers included in the high risk infection group and in the neonatal unit by early routine detection of SGB in urine. We have obtained a low incidence rate, low mortality rate and avoid false negatives of carrier mothers.