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Updated: Nov 3, 2025
A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Published on: November 16, 2016
Group B streptococcus neonatal umbilical colonization managed by dry cord care in nurseries: A retrospective cohort
Keigo Takahashi1, Yuka Sato2, Kazushige Ikeda1
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Saitama City Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
Insights
Vaginal delivery is a key risk factor for group B Streptococcus (GBS) umbilical colonization in Japanese newborns. This highlights potential vertical transmission from mothers with undetected GBS carriage.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal infectious diseases
- Microbiology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) reduces early-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection but doesn't prevent late-onset disease.
- GBS neonatal umbilical colonization occurs despite IAP, necessitating further research into risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and risk factors of GBS neonatal umbilical colonization in Japan.
- To investigate GBS colonization in neonates managed with dry cord care.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of maternal and neonatal clinical characteristics was conducted.
- Umbilical bacterial swabs were collected from 353 healthy newborns before discharge.
- Statistical analysis compared GBS-positive and GBS-negative neonates.
Main Results:
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) was detected in 4.2% of umbilical swabs.
- Vaginal delivery was significantly associated with GBS colonization (100% vs. 34.0%, p < 0.0001).
- Most GBS-positive neonates (86.8%) were born to GBS-negative mothers and often co-colonized with other enteric bacteria.
Conclusions:
- Vaginal delivery is a significant risk factor for GBS neonatal umbilical colonization in Japan.
- Co-colonization suggests vertical transmission from undetected maternal GBS carriers during birth.
Background:
Screening-based intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) has reduced the prevalence of early-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborns. Nevertheless, early-onset disease still occurs despite IAP, and IAP is not effective in preventing late-onset disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of GBS neonatal umbilical colonization managed by dry cord care in Japan.
Methods:
Of 735 healthy newborns in the well-baby nursery at Saitama City Hospital, 353 from whom umbilical bacterial swabs were obtained before discharge were included in the analysis. Maternal and neonatal clinical characteristics were retrospectively reviewed.
Results:
GBS was detected in 4.2% (15/353) of umbilical swabs; 13/15 (86.8%) were born to GBS-negative mothers. The median (IQR) age at umbilical swab collection was 4.0 (4.0-5.0) days. Comparison of clinical characteristics between GBS-positive and negative neonates revealed a significant difference in the proportion of vaginal deliveries (15/15 [100%] in GBS-positive neonates vs. 115/338 [34.0%] in GBS-negative neonates, p < 0.0001). Of 15 GBS-positive neonates, 10 (66.7%) were also co-colonized with other enteric bacteria such as Escherichia coli.
Conclusion:
Vaginal delivery was a risk factor associated with GBS neonatal umbilical colonization in Japanese neonates. Co-colonization with multiple enteric bacterial species implicates vertical transmission of GBS from undetected carrier mothers during passage through the birth canal.
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