ABSTRACT
Perinatal infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae although rare, have caused morbidity and mortality in both neonatal and
puerperal patients. To determine the incidence of proven pneumococcal sepsis in these
patient groups, blood culture records from 1977 to 1989 were reviewed. Of 89 parturient
patients with true positive blood cultures, two (2.2%) were positive for the pneumococcus,
whereas of 240 infants with positive blood cultures, three (1.25%) grew pneumococcus.
The incidence of maternal pneumococcal sepsis was 0.04/1000 live births, and that
of the neonates, 0.06/1000, and the overall rate for sepsis in these two groups was
1.7 and 4.7/1000 live births, respectively. In three mother-infant pairs, the identical
pneumococcal serotypes, 7,18, and 23, were isolated from both mother and infant. Birthweights
and gestational ages of the infants ranged from 2330 to 3730 gm and 34 to 40 weeks,
respectively. Respiratory distress and poor peripheral perfusion were the predominant
clinical signs in the infants with sepsis and became apparent from shortly after birth
until 5 days of life. Pyrexia, poor general condition, and leukocytosis characterized
the mothers with sepsis. All patients survived following antibiotic and supportive
care. Our epidemiologic survey confirms the rareness of perinatal pneumococcal infection
and the ability of these organisms to cause morbidity in both mothers and infants.
