NEONATAL GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTIONS IN YAOUNDE (CAMEROON) - EPIDEMIOLOGIC AND CLINICAL-FEATURES

This study was designed to investigate epidemiologic and clinical features of neonatal group B streptococcal infections. Sixty cases seen over a 60-month period were reviewed. Incidence was 0.8 % of admissions. Most affected infants were from low-income families (86.7 % of mothers were unemployed and 73.5 % of homes were without running water). Neonatal infection was delayed in most instances (76.67 %). Fetid vaginal discharge (60 %) and premature rutpure of the membranes (35 %) were the main findings upon history taking. Abnormal body temperature regulation (76.7 %) was the most prominent clinical manifestation. Respiratory distress developed in 25 % of patients. Meningeal involvement occurred in 73.3 % of patients. Serotype B III was recovered in 31 of the 34 cases (91 %) in which serotype was determined. Mortality rate was 21.7 % and permanent sequelae occurred in 8.3 % of patients.