EARLY-ONSET GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCAL NEONATAL INFECTION IN OXFORD 1985-96

Of 74 920 babies live born in Oxford between 1985 and 1996, 41 (0.5 pe r 1000 95% CI 0.4-0.7) developed definite, culture confirmed, early on set (<48 hours) group B streptococcal infection and 32 (0.4 per 1000 9 5% CI 0.3-0.6) developed probable infection (sepsis plus colonisation) . There was no significant variation in incidence with time. The morta lity from definite infection was 19.5%, and from probable infection 6% . These data suggest that the incidence of group B streptococcal infec tion in Oxford is considerably lower than that reported in the USA.