Maternal-fetal staphylococcal infections: A series report

The objective of this paper is to study the characteristics of maternal-fet al staphyloccocal infection. A retrospective study among 1,582 infants admi tted consecutively to our neonatal intensive care unit was carried out from January 1995 through September 1998. The antenatal history, and the clinic al and bacteriological findings and outcome of the infants fulfilling mater nal-fetal staphyloccocal infection were analysed. Among 122 (7.7%) maternal -fetal infection, 11 cases (8.9%) of congenital staphyloccal infections wer e diagnosed in 9 premature and 2 full-term babies. Antenatal invasive proce dures were noted in 6 occasions (56%). All the 11 infants developed respira tory and hemodynamic failure. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common org anism encountered in maternal bacteriologic data (9/11, 82%) as well as on peripheral sites (9/11, 82%) and in blood cultures (7/11, 64%) performed in the infants. There was one case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus au reus. The outcome was favorable for 9 infants. Two very preterm neonates di ed within the first 72 hours of life. Mother-to-infant transmission of Stap hylococcus should be suspected whenever invasive procedures are performed d uring pregnancy and in the presence of severe neonatal distress associated with an inflammatory response. Prompt and adapted antibiotic therapy allows a favourable outcome.