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A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
10:19

A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization

Published on: November 16, 2016

Group B streptococcal meningitis: cerebrospinal fluid parameters in the era of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis

Annette K Ansong1, P Brian Smith, Daniel K Benjamin

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Early Human Development
|September 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Group B streptococcal meningitis can occur even with negative blood cultures in infants. This serious infection frequently complicates Group B streptococcal sepsis, especially in late-onset cases.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal infectious diseases
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a leading cause of meningitis in newborns.
  • Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) has reduced early-onset GBS disease, but late-onset GBS meningitis still poses a significant threat.
  • Understanding GBS meningitis characteristics is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters in infants with culture-proven GBS meningitis.
  • To evaluate GBS meningitis in the context of IAP.
  • To compare CSF findings and outcomes between infants with and without GBS meningitis.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 13,495 infants from 150 neonatal intensive care units.
  • Analysis of the first lumbar puncture CSF parameters: white blood cell count, red blood cell count, glucose, and protein.
  • Comparison of demographics and outcomes between infants with and without GBS meningitis.

Main Results:

  • 46 infants were diagnosed with GBS meningitis.
  • CSF white blood cell counts were significantly higher in infants with GBS meningitis (median 271 cells/mm³) compared to those without (median 6 cells/mm³).
  • 20% of GBS meningitis cases had negative blood cultures; GBS meningitis complicated 15% of early-onset and 57% of late-onset GBS sepsis.

Conclusions:

  • GBS meningitis can occur despite negative blood cultures.
  • GBS sepsis frequently leads to meningitis in hospitalized infants undergoing lumbar puncture.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is critical for diagnosing GBS meningitis in infants.
Abstract

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