Postpartum maternal group B streptococcal meningitis

Abstract

Maternal group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis is rare, with only four cases previously reported in the literature. In this review a fifth case of postpartum GBS meningitis is presented. The five cases are compared with 34 cases of GBS meningitis in nonparturient adults. All cases of maternal GBS meningitis followed a vaginal delivery. The mean age of patients who had GBS meningitis outside the perinatal setting was 55 years, and most of these individuals had associated illnesses or frank immunosuppression; the mortality rate in this group was 23%. In contrast, all five patients with maternal GBS meningitis recovered. The case presented herein, like the four previous cases, illustrates the point that when patients with maternal GBS meningitis are treated immediately and have been healthy before the infection, the prognosis is good.