Abstract
In neonates, recurrent group B streptococcal infection is uncommon, and two relapses are extremely rare. We report a case of three distinct episodes of Streptococcus agalactiae bacteremia in a healthy full-term infant over a 4-week period. The newborn had no apparent predisposing condition or infectious focus, and the recurrences occurred after adequate antimicrobial treatment, the second occurring after withdrawal of colonized breast milk. Finally, oral rifampin was combined to his antibiotic regimen, his colonization cultures turned negative, and no further relapses have occurred during the 11-month follow-up. Conclusion In this report, we describe a newborn with two exceptionally rapid recurrences of group B streptococcal septicemias, and who was successfully treated with combining rifampin to the antibiotic regimen.
References
Atkins JT, Heresi GP, Coque TM, Baker CJ (1998) Recurrent group B streptococcal disease in infants: who should receive rifampin? J Pediatr 132:537–539
Denning DW, Bressack M, Troup NJ, Tompkins LS (1988) Infant with two relapses of group B streptococcal sepsis documented by DNA restriction enzyme analysis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 7:729–732
Fernandez M, Rench MA, Albanyan EA et al (2001) Failure of rifampin to eradicate group B streptococcal colonization in infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J 20:371–716
Gagneur A, Héry-Arnaud G, Croly-Labourdette S et al (2009) Infected breast milk associated with late-onset and recurrent group B streptococcal infection in neonatal twins: a genetic analysis. Eur J Pediatr 168:1155–1158
Green PA, Singh KV, Murray BE, Baker CJ (1994) Recurrent group B streptococcal infections in infants: clinical and microbiologic aspects. J Pediatr 125:931–938
Klein JO (2006) Bacterial sepsis and meningitis. In: Remington JS, Klein JO (eds) Infectious disease of the fetus and newborn infant, 6th edn. Saunders, New York, pp 434–435
Kotiw M, Zhang GW, Daggard G et al (2003) Late-onset and recurrent neonatal group B streptococcal disease associated with breast-milk transmission. Pediatr Dev Pathol 6:251–256
Lalande M, Marchandin H, Enaud L et al (2002) Group B Streptococcal infection with 2 recurrences in a newborn. Arch Pediatr 9:45–48
Millard DD, Bussey ME, Shulman ST, Yogev R (1985) Multiple group B streptococcal infections in a premature infant: eradication of nasal colonization with rifampin. Am J Dis Child 139:964–965
Siljander T, Karppelin M, Vähäkuopus S et al (2008) Acute bacterial, nonnecrotizing cellulitis in Finland: microbiological findings. Clin Infect Dis 15:855–861
Simón JL, Bosch J, Puig A, Grau M (1989) Two relapses of group B streptococcal sepsis and transient hypogammaglobulinemia. Pediatr Infect Dis J 8:729–730
Maduri-Traczewski M, Szymczak EG, Goldmann DA (1983) In vitro activity of penicillin and rifampin against group B streptococci. Rew Infect Dis 5:S586–S592
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflict of interest and financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Soukka, H., Rantakokko-Jalava, K., Vähäkuopus, S. et al. Three distinct episodes of GBS septicemia in a healthy newborn during the first month of life. Eur J Pediatr 169, 1275–1277 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1187-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1187-6