Group B streptococcal infections in neonates and infants. Report of 16 cases, with referrence to the fatal outcome in late-onset leucopenic cases.

: Sixteen cases of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections in neonates and infants aged up to 3 months were detected from November 1973 to January 1977. Three patients presented with pneumonia, 10 with meningitis and 3 with both pneumonia and meningitis. All diagnoses were confirmed by positive blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid cultures. The serotypes involved were type Ia (2 cases), type II (4 cases) and type III (10 cases). Ten patients died (62.5%). Early antibiotic treatment did not appear to affect the outcome, but low peripheral leucocyte count indicated a uniformly fatal outcome in 6 cases where leucopenia was documented, and this appeared to be associated with late-onset disease. The current status of GBS disease is presented, with particular reference to the control measures at present available and the possibility of immunotherapy and vaccination.