Definition
A GAS infection was defined by the isolation of the pathogen from a sterile liquid or tissue site. A postpartum GAS infection was defined as the isolation of GAS growth in association with a clinical infection during the postpartum period. Blood and urine cultures were routinely obtained from all patients with peripartum hyperpyrexia (fever >38°C). Additional cultures from the genital tract were obtained in cases of a suspected maternal infection. Each case of a positive culture was considered as being infectious since GAS is considered a specific pathogen and not a contaminant/coloniser.