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  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Late Onset Group B Streptococcal Infection from Maternal Expressed Breast Milk in a Very Low Birth Weight Infant

Journal of Perinatology volume 23, pages 691–692 (2003)Cite this article

With rare exception, human milk is the preferred food for all infants, including premature and sick newborns.1 Mastitis and breast abscesses have been associated with the presence of bacterial pathogens in human milk.2 Breast abscesses have the potential to release a large amount of bacteria into the milk. Mastitis, however, is generally considered as a benign, self-limited infection, with few consequences for the suckling infant.3

This infant male weighted 977 g at birth and was the second born of triplets delivered by cesarean section. The mother received intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis because the vaginal group B streptococcus culture was unknown. He was intubated shortly after birth because of respiratory failure and subsequently received two doses of surfactant. By the 3rd day of life, he was extubated and nasal CPAP was initiated. Antibiotic therapy was discontinued and enteral nutrition with expressed mother's own milk was initiated. By 8 days of age, he was receiving exclusively breast milk. On the 10th day of life, this infant developed apnea and bradycardia episodes and lethargy was noted. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were positive for group B streptococcus type III.

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  1. Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, CT

    Jose M Arias-Camison MD

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  1. Jose M Arias-Camison MD
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Arias-Camison, J. Late Onset Group B Streptococcal Infection from Maternal Expressed Breast Milk in a Very Low Birth Weight Infant. J Perinatol 23, 691–692 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210994

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