Analysis of an Outbreak of Puerperal Fever Due to Group A Streptococci by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Fingerprinting

Abstract

Objective: Streptococcus pyogenes is the cause of the classical childbed fever and can occur in both sporadic and epidemic form. Once an outbreak is identified on a maternity ward it is not only necessary to place the patients in strict isolation but also identify to the source of the infection. Fast reliable typing methods can aid in infection control.