Severe neonatal group A streptococcal disease

Since the mid-1980s, an increase in incidence of invasive disease caused by group A streptoccoci has been noted amongst adults and children; however, neonatal disease is still rare. Between 1979 and 1998, seven neonates with severe group A streptoccocal disease were admitted to our neonatal intensiv e cal-e unit. The clinical presentation, treatment and outcome are describe d. In three cases of early-onset disease vertical transmission was document ed. Conclusion Because the incidence of group A streptococcal disease in the ge neral population seems to have increased over the last two decades, we shou ld be aware of the possibility and particularly the severity of group A str eptococcal disease in the neonatal period.