THISEPORT describes an epidemic of group A type 12 streptococcal infection which occurred in the nursery of a community hospital in northern Alabama. The report is prompted by two factors: the relative infrequency of reported group A streptococcal nursery infections in recent years and the occurrence of, and successful treatment of, a case of group A streptococcal meningitis in an infant who acquired infection in this nursery.
Organisms other than group A streptococci are now more commonly associated with neonatal infection whether sporadic or epidemic. Eickhoff et al1 have reviewed experiences at Boston City Hospital during the early 1960's and reported group B streptococci to be the most common single agent associated with neonatal sepsis. Nyhan and Fousek2 reported six infants with group B streptococcal infection among 106 cases of neonatal sepsis. The significance of the group B streptococcus has also been emphasized by Hood et al3