Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rarely recognised cause of neonatal disorder, but outcome ( mortality), neurological sequele) is particularly severe.Sepsis or meningitis are frequent clinical presentation. Possible mechanism fetal or neonatal infection are: transplacentally to maternal bacteremia, ascending infection from the maternal genital tract, passage throug a colonized birth canal, or postpartum by respiratory spread.
These infections ae associated with prematurity, prolonged rupture of membranes and especially maternal vaginal colonization, which is the main risk factor. Maternal colonization is rare, but if it is found, it should not be undervalued.