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A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
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Published on: November 16, 2016

Group B streptococcus infection in infancy: 21-year experience

Chiang-Hua Liao1, Li-Min Huang, Chun-Yi Lu

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.

Acta Paediatrica Taiwanica = Taiwan Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi
|March 14, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections in infants present with varied clinical symptoms. Early-onset GBS disease shows higher rates of pneumonia and mortality compared to late-onset disease.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of invasive infections in infants.
  • Understanding the clinical spectrum and outcomes of GBS infections is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the clinical presentations, outcomes, and antibiotic susceptibilities of invasive Group B Streptococcus infections in children.
  • To compare early-onset disease (EOD) and late-onset disease (LOD) in infants with GBS.

Main Methods:

  • Hospital-based retrospective review of pediatric GBS infections from January 1980 to March 2000.
  • Analysis of clinical data, including onset, symptoms, manifestations, and outcomes.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of GBS strains.

Main Results:

  • Of 25 infants, 9 had EOD and 12 had LOD. EOD cases often presented on day 1 of life, with higher rates of pneumonia (66%) and case-fatality (33.3%).
  • LOD was predominantly meningitis (77%), with severe sequelae in 40%. Common symptoms included fever, poor activity, respiratory distress, lethargy, and irritability.
  • All tested strains were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, and vancomycin; variable susceptibility was noted for erythromycin (62%) and clindamycin (75%). Type III GBS strains were most common.

Conclusions:

  • GBS infections in infants exhibit distinct clinical patterns for early-onset and late-onset disease.
  • Prompt recognition and appropriate antibiotic therapy are essential, considering potential resistance patterns.
  • Type III GBS strains are prevalent and require continued surveillance for antibiotic resistance.

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