2002; Korhonen et al. 1985; Obata-Yasuoka et al. 2002; Watt et al. 2003). The mean prevalence of the K1 antigen among the NMEC strains was higher than that among the neonatal septicaemia strains (59–70 %) (Bingen et al. 1996; Obata-Yasuoka et al. 2002; Watt et al. 2003). The gene discussed is KRT1; the disease is Sepsis.