Fulminant Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis Due to Streptococcus gallolyticus (Group D): A Report of a Fatal Case

TL;DR

A rare and fatal case of early-onset neonatal sepsis caused by Streptococcus gallolyticus (Group D) is reported in a preterm infant.

Contribution

This paper reports a rare and fatal case of neonatal sepsis due to Streptococcus gallolyticus, highlighting its clinical significance.

Findings

Streptococcus gallolyticus (Group D) can cause early-onset neonatal sepsis with a high fatality rate.

The infection is typically acquired during childbirth from maternal colonization.

Symptoms present within the first 48 hours, similar to other neonatal sepsis causes.

Abstract

Streptococcus enterococci group D is a rare cause of neonatal sepsis, and it is associated with significant morbidity and a very high fatality rate. The infection is usually acquired intra-partum, from the colonization of the maternal genital tract. Most affected neonates have an early-onset presentation of symptoms, usually within the first 48 hours after birth, which is similar to other causes of neonatal sepsis such as Streptococcus agalactiae or Escherichia coli. We describe an early preterm infant with a fatal, early-onset sepsis caused by Streptococcus D.

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