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A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
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A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization

Published on: November 16, 2016

Group B Streptococcus early-onset disease in Emilia-romagna: review after introduction of a screening-based approach

Alberto Berardi1, Licia Lugli, Dante Baronciani

  • 1Unità Operativa di Terapia Intensiva Neonatale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Modena, Modena, Italy. berardi.alberto@policlinico.mo.it

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|November 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Most early-onset Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections occur in infants born to GBS-negative mothers, indicating missed prevention opportunities rather than prophylaxis failures.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal infectious diseases
  • Bacteriology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a primary cause of neonatal bacterial infections.
  • Despite prevention efforts, early-onset GBS infections persist.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Analyze GBS infection trends and identify persistence factors.
  • Evaluate antenatal screening and intrapartum chemoprophylaxis impact on infection presentation.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, population-based cohort study in Emilia-Romagna, Italy (2003-2008).
  • Analysis of invasive GBS infections in infants < 7 days old.

Main Results:

  • 61 early-onset GBS infections identified among 214,120 live births.
  • Most infections occurred in infants born to GBS-negative mothers, including those with no risk factors.
  • Meningitis cases were predominantly in term infants born to culture-negative mothers; disease severity correlated with lower gestational age.

Conclusions:

  • The majority of GBS infections occurred in infants whose mothers screened negative for GBS.
  • Missed prevention opportunities, not prophylaxis failures, are the main contributors to the early-onset GBS disease burden.
Abstract

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