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Updated: Feb 19, 2026
A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Published on: November 16, 2016
Neurodevelopmental Impairment in Children After Group B Streptococcal Disease Worldwide: Systematic Review and
Maya Kohli-Lynch1,2, Neal J Russell1,3, Anna C Seale1,4
1Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive and Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
Insights
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) meningitis survivors face a significant risk of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). Around 1 in 5 infants with GBS meningitis experience moderate to severe NDI, highlighting the need for better data and standardized follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal infectious diseases
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Public health epidemiology
Background:
- Infants surviving Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease are at risk for neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI).
- The burden of NDI in GBS survivors has not been systematically quantified.
- This study estimates NDI in infants surviving GBS disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and estimate the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in infants surviving invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease.
- To quantify the burden of NDI following GBS meningitis and sepsis in infants.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature reviews were conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, LILACS, WHOLIS, Scopus).
- Unpublished data on NDI risk in infants (<90 days) with invasive GBS disease were sought.
- Meta-analyses were performed to estimate NDI rates in GBS meningitis survivors.
Main Results:
- Of 6127 identified studies, 18 met eligibility criteria, focusing on GBS meningitis survivors.
- 32% of GBS meningitis survivors had NDI at 18 months, with 18% experiencing moderate to severe impairment.
- Data for GBS sepsis survivors were insufficient for meta-analysis.
Conclusions:
- GBS meningitis is a significant risk factor for moderate to severe NDI in approximately 1 in 5 survivors.
- Limited data prevent estimation of NDI risk following GBS sepsis.
- Methodological variations hinder comparability; standardization of follow-up and assessment is crucial to quantify NDI burden and inform program priorities.
Background:
Survivors of infant group B streptococcal (GBS) disease are at risk of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI), a burden not previously systematically quantified. This is the 10th of 11 articles estimating the burden of GBS disease. Here we aimed to estimate NDI in survivors of infant GBS disease.
Methods:
We conducted systematic literature reviews (PubMed/Medline, Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature [LILACS], World Health Organization Library Information System [WHOLIS], and Scopus) and sought unpublished data on the risk of NDI after invasive GBS disease in infants <90 days of age. We did meta-analyses to derive pooled estimates of the percentage of infants with NDI following GBS meningitis.
Results:
We identified 6127 studies, of which 18 met eligibility criteria, all from middle- or high-income contexts. All 18 studies followed up survivors of GBS meningitis; only 5 of these studies also followed up survivors of GBS sepsis and were too few to pool in a meta-analysis. Of meningitis survivors, 32% (95% CI, 25%-38%) had NDI at 18 months of follow-up, including 18% (95% CI, 13%-22%) with moderate to severe NDI.
Conclusions:
GBS meningitis is an important risk factor for moderate to severe NDI, affecting around 1 in 5 survivors. However, data are limited, and we were unable to estimate NDI after GBS sepsis. Comparability of studies is difficult due to methodological differences including variability in timing of clinical reviews and assessment tools. Follow-up of clinical cases and standardization of methods are essential to fully quantify the total burden of NDI associated with GBS disease, and inform program priorities.
