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Updated: Jul 16, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Effect of probiotics on mother-to-neonate vertical transmission of group B streptococci: A prospective open-label
Yuriha Kasai1, Mitsutaka Komatsu2, Yudai Toyama3
1Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8431, Japan.
Insights
Probiotic use of Lactobacillus reuteri during pregnancy may reduce Group B Strep (GBS) transmission to newborns. While not statistically significant, the study suggests a potential benefit in preventing mother-to-child transmission of GBS.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal microbiology
- Maternal-fetal health
- Probiotic research
Background:
- Group B Streptococci (GBS) colonize 20-30% of pregnant women, posing a risk for neonatal infections.
- Probiotics are increasingly studied for perinatal benefits, but their impact on GBS mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation on the mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of Group B Streptococci (GBS) in pregnant women.
Main Methods:
- Open-label randomized trial involving pregnant women with GBS-positive cultures.
- Probiotic group received Lactobacillus reuteri from 35-37 weeks gestation to 1 month postpartum.
- Newborn rectal swabs and whole-genome sequencing of GBS strains were used to assess MTCT.
Main Results:
- Newborn GBS positivity at 1 month was 10% in the probiotic group vs. 28% in the control group.
- The GBS MTCT rate at 1 month was 6% in the probiotic group and 22% in the control group.
- The observed differences were not statistically significant (p=0.0927).
Conclusions:
- While not statistically significant, Lactobacillus reuteri consumption by GBS-positive pregnant women showed a trend towards inhibiting GBS MTCT.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the potential of probiotics in preventing GBS transmission.
Background:
Group B Streptococci (GBS) are common vaginal bacteria found in 20-30% of pregnant women and a significant cause of invasive infections in newborns. Recently, attention has been focused on the efficacy of probiotics during the perinatal period. However, the effect of probiotic intake on the mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of GBS remains unknown.
Methods:
Pregnant women with positive GBS results from vaginal and rectal swab cultures at 35-37 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned to the probiotic group or the control group in an open-label manner at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San-ikukai Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. The probiotic group received Lactobacillus reuteri during antenatal checkups from 35 to 37-week gestation to 1 month after delivery. Rectal swabs were obtained from the newborns at 5 days and at 1 month of age. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to test for GBS strains in the mother, whose newborn carried GBS at the 1-month checkup. Multi-locus sequence typing and single nucleotide polymorphism analyses were performed to identify MTCT.
Results:
Overall, 67 mother-infant pairs were included, with 31 in the probiotic group and 36 in the control group. The positivity rate of GBS in newborns at 1 month of age was 10% (n = 3) in the probiotic group and 28% (n = 10) in the control group. In newborns carrying GBS at 1 month of age, genetic analysis revealed that the MTCT rate was 6% in the probiotic group and 22% in the control group, although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.0927).
Conclusion:
No statistically significant difference was found; however, the consumption of L. reuteri by women with GBS-positive pregnancies may inhibit the MTCT of GBS.
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