Streptococcus pneumoniae Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis: Case Report

Date of submission: 18-08-2020 | Date of acceptance: 16-11-2020 | Published: 03-04-2021

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of neonatal sépsis, but it is frequently associated with an aggressive clinical course.

A full-term newborn with and uneventful pregnancy, presented in the first hours of life with worsening general condition and seizures. Laboratory evaluation was suggestive of infection and cerebrospinal fluid was consistent with meningitis. There was progressive deterioration with refractory hypotension, intravascular disseminated coagulopathy and oliguria. He was pronounced dead on the sixth day of life. Blood culture was positive for Streptococus pneumoniae. After the birth, the newborn’s mother presented with sepsis with the same agent being isolated in the blood cultures. The serotyping identified the serotype 3 in both the newborn’s and mother’s samples.

Although uncommon, Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause clinically significant disease in the newborn, with higher mortality when compared with the common agents of early onset sepsis and with a worse prognosis if associated with maternal bacteriemia.