title: Severe neonatal group A streptococcal disease.
abstract: Since the mid-1980s, an increase in incidence of invasive disease caused by group A streptococci has been noted amongst adults and children; however, neonatal disease is still rare. Between 1979 and 1998, seven neonates with severe group A streptococcal disease were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit. The clinical presentation, treatment and outcome are described. In three cases of early-onset disease vertical transmission was documented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because the incidence of group A streptococcal disease in the general population seems to have increased over the last two decades, we should be aware of the possibility and particularly the severity of group A streptococcal disease in the neonatal period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.verboon@wkz.azu.nl
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verboon-Maciolek
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Krediet
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van Ertbruggen
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gerards
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleer
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes