Currently, the group A Streptococcus is a unusual cause of infection in the neonatal period. The description of cases of severe infection in the newborn is sporadic. We present a 12-days-old newborn attended at the emergency room for fever without focus, which developed neurological and systemic involvement during admission. Clinical presentation, evolution and treatment are described. Blood culture isolation of group A Streptococcus confrmed late sepsis by this bacteria, probably with associated meningitis.

Actualmente, Streptococcus grupo A es una causa infrecuente de infección en el período neonatal. La descripción de casos de infección grave en el recién nacido es esporádica. Presentamos un recién nacido de 12 días de vida que acudió al servicio de urgencias por síndrome febril sin foco, que durante su ingreso desarrolló afectación neurológica y sistémica. Describimos la presentación clínica, la evolución y el tratamiento. El aislamiento de Streptococcus grupo A en el hemocultivo confrma la sepsis tardía por este germen con probable meningitis asociada.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator injury has been implicated in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Avoiding invasive ventilation could reduce lung injury, and early respiratory management may affect pulmonary outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of initial respiratory support on survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia at a gestational age of 36 weeks. DESIGN/METHODS: A prospective 3-year observational study. Preterm infants of <32 weeks gestational age were classified into 4 groups according to the support needed during the first 2 hours of life: room air, nasal continuous positive airway pressure, intubation/surfactant/extubation and prolonged mechanical ventilation (defined as needing mechanical ventilation for more than 2 hours). RESULTS: Of the 329 eligible patients, a total of 49% did not need intubation, and 68.4% did not require prolonged mechanical ventilation. At a gestational age of 26 weeks, there was a significant correlation between survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia and initial respiratory support. Preterm infants requiring mechanical ventilation showed a higher risk of death and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. After controlling for gestational age, antenatal corticosteroid use, maternal preeclampsia and chorioamnionitis, the survival rate without bronchopulmonary dysplasia remained significantly lower in the mechanically ventilated group. CONCLUSIONS: In our population, the need for more than 2 hours of mechanical ventilation predicted the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants with a gestational age >26 weeks (sensitivity =89.5% and specificity = 67%). The need for prolonged mechanical ventilation could be an early marker for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This finding could help identify a target population with a high risk of chronic lung disease. Future research is needed to determine other strategies to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in this high-risk group of patients.