Scalp abscess secondary to fetal scalp electrode

The n u m b e r of infants moni tored by spiral scalp electrode was est imated to be a m a x i m u m of 1,030 (50%) of the 2,061 live births. Of these, at least n ine subsequent ly developed a scalp abscess, an incidence of 0.9%. In six of n ine infants, cultures of the abscess were positive: five with a single organism (three with Hemophilus influenzae type b, one with B-hemolytic streptococcus group A, one with microaerophi l ic streptococcus), and one with three organisms (B-hemolytic streptococcus group B and two anaerobes) . In two infants an identical organism was cul tured f rom blood and abscess: Hemophilus influenzae type b in one infant who, t reated with ampici l l in in t ravenously for 14 days, m a d e an uneven t fu l recovery, and B-hemolytic streptococcus group A in a second infant whose case history follows.