NEONATAL COXSACKIEVIRUS GROUP-B INFECTIONS - EXPERIENCE OF A SINGLE DEPARTMENT OF NEONATOLOGY

Coxsackie infections in 14 infants born in a single neonatal unit were studied. The clinical presentation was mild nonspecific disease in ei ght infants and an overwhelming multiorgan disease in six. Three infan ts with systemic disease died. Vertical transmission of the virus from a colonized mother was documented in five mothers who infected seven infants. The remaining seven infants were infected horizontally, presu mably from infected personnel. Coxsackie B1 was isolated in four of th e cases and type B3 in two cases of systemic disease. Intravenous gamm aglobulin combined with human leukocyte interferon was utilized in thr ee cases of overwhelming disease and two infants of these infants surv ived.