• Atul Malhotra, Rod W Hunt, and Richard R Doherty.
• Monash Newborn, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. atul.malhotra@southernhealth.org.au
• J Paediatr Child Health. 2012 Feb 1; 48 (2): E79-83.

BackgroundStreptococcus pneumoniae (SP) is an uncommon cause of neonatal sepsis.AimsTo report on the spectrum of morbidity associated with SP infections in the neonatal period.MethodsA case series of SP infection in the neonatal period was studied. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were noted.ResultsFour cases of neonatal SP infection are reported, one of which was due to a strain with reduced susceptibility to penicillin. All four cases had very early onset of severe clinical disease with bacteremia and pneumonia. In one case a retrospective diagnosis of meningitis was made as well. Maternal illness was a feature in one of these infants.ConclusionsAlthough less common now than in the pre-antibiotic era, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a rare but important cause of neonatal sepsis and can mimic early onset Group B streptococcal sepsis. It is unclear whether current infant or adult pneumococcal immunisation programs might influence its incidence in the neonatal period. The potential for strains with reduced susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics to cause neonatal infection needs to be considered in relevant settings.© 2010 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2010 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).

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