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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 disease in infants aged younger than 3 months: systematic review and meta-analysis

Karen M Edmond1, Christina Kortsalioudaki, Susana Scott

  • 1London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. karen.edmond@lshtm.ac.uk

Lancet (London, England)
|January 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes significant infant illness and death globally. A vaccine targeting five GBS serotypes could prevent the majority of invasive GBS disease cases.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide.
  • Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis is widely used but GBS disease burden estimates are lacking for many regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the current global burden of invasive GBS disease.
  • To determine the serotype distribution of GBS isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Searched Medline, Embase, and Wholis databases for studies on invasive GBS disease (early- and late-onset).
  • Included studies reporting incidence, deaths, or serotypes; reviewed reference lists and contacted experts for unpublished data.
  • Utilized random effects meta-analysis to pool data from 74 eligible studies.

Main Results:

  • Mean incidence of GBS in infants (0-89 days) was 0.53 per 1000 livebirths, with a case fatality ratio of 9.6%.
  • Early-onset GBS incidence and case fatality were double that of late-onset disease.
  • Serotype III was most common (48.9%), followed by Ia (22.9%), V (9.1%), Ib (7.0%), and II (6.2%).

Conclusions:

  • More high-quality studies are needed, particularly in low-income countries, to accurately estimate GBS burden.
  • A conjugate vaccine targeting serotypes Ia, Ib, II, III, and V could prevent most global GBS disease.
Abstract

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