Neonatal cervical group B streptococcal cellulitis

Cellulitis of neonates and infants younger than three months of age is rare and often atypical in presentation. Because of the potentially (and rapidly) lethal course of group B streptococcal sepsis, it is essential to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment. We report the case of a neonate with group B streptococcal retroauricular cellulitis. Admitted for late bacterial neonatal infection with cutaneous location. The history of the disease dates back to one day before admission, with the appearance of a painful cervical swelling without other associated signs evolving in a context of fever of 39°.
The clinical examination found a pink tonic reactive newborn in good hemodynamic and respiratory condition, febrile at 39.5°. With the presence of a painful and warm latero-cervical mass of hard consistency and the presence of associated bilateral latero-cervical adenopathies was noted. The oral cavity examination was unremarkable;
Cellulitis in newborns and infants under 3 months of age is rare and has not been described in the literature except in a few clinical cases. In the case of any cellulitis of the face in a newborn or before the age of 3 months, late infection with group B streptococci (GBS) should be considered.