Two cases of neonatal pneumococcal septicemia

Pneumococci (Streptococcus pneumoniae) infrequently cause neonatal septicemia. An increased number of cases have been reported in recent years, but no increase in the relative incidence among neonatal infections has been noted. Two recent cases that occurred within a short period of time are described. They were found to exhibit most clinical characteristics, previously described, of Group B Streptococci (GBS) septicemia with an early onset, but appear to have a graver prognosis.