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Updated: Nov 6, 2025
A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Published on: November 16, 2016
Intrapartum group B Streptococcal prophylaxis and childhood weight gain
Sagori Mukhopadhyay1, Matthew Bryan2, Miren B Dhudasia3
1Pediatrics, Neonatology, Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA mukhopadhs@email.chop.edu.
Insights
Maternal group B streptococcal (GBS) intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) was linked to a modest increase in early childhood weight gain. Further research is needed to understand long-term effects and develop alternative prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatal Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal infections.
- Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is crucial for preventing GBS transmission during birth.
- The long-term effects of IAP on infant development require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between maternal GBS IAP and the rate of weight gain in children from birth to 5 years.
- To compare weight gain trajectories between infants exposed and unexposed to GBS IAP.
- To explore potential differences in this association based on delivery mode.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 13,804 infants born between 2007 and 2012.
- Longitudinal follow-up from birth to 5 years of age.
- Analysis using longitudinal rate regression, stratified by delivery mode and adjusted for covariates.
Main Results:
- Maternal GBS IAP was administered to 17.7% of mothers.
- GBS IAP-exposed children showed a significantly elevated rate of weight gain up to age 5.
- This translated to an additional 0.24 kg for vaginally-born and 0.60 kg for caesarean-born children at 5 years.
Conclusions:
- GBS-specific IAP is associated with a modest increase in early childhood weight gain.
- While effective in preventing GBS disease, IAP's impact on growth warrants further study.
- Development of alternative GBS prevention strategies is supported by these findings.
Objective:
To determine the difference in rate of weight gain from birth to 5 years based on exposure to maternal group B streptococcal (GBS) intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP).
Design:
Retrospective cohort study of 13 804 infants.
Setting:
Two perinatal centres and a primary paediatric care network in Philadelphia.
Participants:
Term infants born 2007-2012, followed longitudinally from birth to 5 years of age.
Exposures:
GBS IAP defined as penicillin, ampicillin, cefazolin, clindamycin or vancomycin administered ≥4 hours prior to delivery to the mother. Reference infants were defined as born to mothers without (vaginal delivery) or with other (caesarean delivery) intrapartum antibiotic exposure.
Outcomes:
Difference in rate of weight change from birth to 5 years was assessed using longitudinal rate regression. Analysis was a priori stratified by delivery mode and adjusted for relevant covariates.
Results:
GBS IAP was administered to mothers of 2444/13 804 (17.7%) children. GBS IAP-exposed children had a significantly elevated rate of weight gain in the first 5 years among vaginally-born (adjusted rate difference 1.44% (95% CI 0.3% to 2.6%)) and caesarean-born (3.52% (95% CI 1.9% to 5.2%)) children. At 5 years, the rate differences equated to an additional 0.24 kg among vaginally-born children and 0.60 kg among caesarean-born children.
Conclusion:
GBS-specific IAP was associated with a modest increase in rate of early childhood weight gain. GBS IAP is an effective intervention to prevent perinatal GBS disease-associated morbidity and mortality. However, these findings highlight the need to better understand effects of intrapartum antibiotic exposure on childhood growth and support efforts to develop alternate prevention strategies.
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