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Updated: Mar 18, 2026
A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Published on: November 16, 2016
Current knowledge and future perspectives on management and prevention of group B streptococcus in neonates and young
Andrew N Young1, Konstantinos Karampatsas2, Shamez N Ladhani2,3
1Institute for Infection and Immunity, City St George's University of London, London, UK ayoung@sgul.ac.uk.
Insights
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes significant neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the UK. Current prevention strategies have limitations, necessitating further research into screening and immunization for better infant outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the UK, affecting approximately 0.9 per 1000 live births.
- GBS infections lead to severe outcomes, including death in 6% of infants and long-term neurodevelopmental issues in up to a third of survivors.
- Early-onset GBS disease typically arises from vertical transmission during birth, while late-onset disease results from postnatal exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of the current UK risk-based intra-partum antibiotic prophylaxis strategy for GBS prevention.
- To underscore the need for updated epidemiological data to inform policy and practice regarding GBS disease.
- To discuss ongoing research into universal antenatal GBS screening and maternal immunisation as potential improved prevention methods.
Main Methods:
- Review of current UK GBS prevention strategies and their limitations.
- Discussion of existing GBS disease epidemiology and impact on neonatal outcomes.
- Overview of ongoing research initiatives, including antenatal screening, maternal immunisation, and enhanced surveillance studies.
Main Results:
- The current risk-based intra-partum antibiotic prophylaxis strategy has limited impact on overall GBS disease burden, particularly in infants without identified risk factors and for late-onset disease.
- GBS infections contribute significantly to neonatal mortality and long-term morbidity.
- Updated epidemiological data is crucial for refining GBS prevention policies.
Conclusions:
- Current GBS prevention strategies in the UK are insufficient to fully address the disease burden.
- Further investigation into universal antenatal screening and maternal immunisation is warranted.
- Enhanced surveillance studies are essential for providing up-to-date epidemiological data to guide future GBS prevention policies and improve infant health outcomes.
Abstract:
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the UK, with an incidence of around 0.9 per 1000 live births. Early-onset disease usually results from vertical transmission during delivery, while late-onset disease is also acquired through postnatal exposures. GBS disease presents as sepsis, meningitis or pneumonia and leads to death in 6% of affected infants and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment in up to a third of survivors. The current UK prevention strategy of risk-based intra-partum antibiotic prophylaxis has several limitations, including lack of impact on disease burden in infants without associated risk factors and on late-onset disease. Ongoing studies of universal antenatal GBS screening and GBS maternal immunisations, along with a new British Paediatric Surveillance Unit surveillance study to provide updated epidemiological data will help to guide policy and practice.
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