Streptococcus gallolyticus - A potentially neglected pathogen causing neonatal sepsis not covered by routine group B streptococcus screening

Abstract

We report 4 cases of neonatal sepsis caused by Streptococcus gallolyticus. The clinical course was quite similar to early-and late-onset group B streptococcus disease. None of the mothers had group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization on prenatal screening nor received intrapartum antibiotics. We proposed the sporadic distribution of S. gallolyticus sepsis among neonates was partly due to relatively low colonization rate in adults compared with GBS. Species determination of S. gallolyticus may not be available using conventional microbiological methods and may contribute to underestimation or misclassification. In our series, we highlighted the importance of S. gallolyticus as an important pathogen in neonatal sepsis deserving further surveillance.

Keywords: Neonatal sepsis; Streptococcus gallolyticus.