Streptococcus pneumoniae infection on Noenates
Journal Article
2007
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SAMJ South African Medical Journal
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Health and Medical Publishing Group
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
WWhile Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteraemia is not uncommon, clinicians and microbiologists might not think of it in terms of neonatal sepsis. Our interest was aroused recently by two cases of S. pneumoniae bacteraemia in neonates. A 21-year-old primigravida had a spontaneous rupture of membranes at 34 weeks’ gestation with clear liquor and no clinical or laboratory features of sepsis. She received intravenous ampicillin and metronidazole, and had a normal vaginal delivery approximately 40 hours after the rupture of membranes. At delivery the baby had good Apgar scores of 9 and 9, but was noted to be in respiratory distress with tachypnoea (respiratory rate of 72 breaths/minute), grunting and subcostal and intercostal recession. He was commenced on intravenous penicillin and gentamicin. S. pneumoniae was cultured from the blood, susceptible to penicillin (MIC as determined by Etest of 0.016 µg/ml). He had a good clinical response to 10 days of intravenous penicillin.
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Reference:
Bamford, C., Whitelaw, A., & Haffejee, S. (2007). Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in neonates. South African Medical Journal, 97(1), 10.