Early-onset neonatal pneumococcal sepsis in siblings.

The case of a woman who in two successive pregnancies produced premature infants affected by early-onset Streptococcus pneumoniae type 8 sepsis is described. Low maternal levels of pneumococcal IgG antibodies were demonstrated after the second delivery, and vaccination with 'Pneumovax' produced a rise in antibody levels. Attention is drawn to the similarity between early-onset pneumococcal neonatal sepsis and group B streptococcal sepsis. Mothers of infants affected by early-onset pneumococcal sepsis who have low pneumococcal antibody levels run the risk of subsequent babies being similarly affected and vaccination should be considered to prevent recurrence.