Open AccessUnderstanding Factors in Group B Streptococcus Late-Onset Disease
Author(s) -
Alberto Berardi,
Viola Trevisani,
Antonella Di Caprio,
Jenny Bua,
Mariachiara China,
Barbara Perrone,
Rossella Pagano,
Laura Lucaccioni,
Silvia Fanaro,
Lorenzo Iughetti,
Licia Lugli,
Roberta Creti
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
infection and drug resistance
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.033
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 1178-6973
DOI - 10.2147/idr.s291511
Subject(s) - medicine , breastfeeding , group b , meningitis , sepsis , disease , pneumonia , streptococcus , pediatrics , immunology , biology , bacteria , genetics
Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection remains a leading cause of sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis in infants. Rates of GBS early onset disease have declined following the widcespread use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis; hence, late-onset infections (LOGBS) are currently a common presentation of neonatal GBS dicsease. The pathogenesis, mode of transmission, and risk factors associated with LOGBS are unclear, which interfere with effective prevention efforts. GBS may be transmitted from the mother to the infant at the time of delivery or during the postpartum period via contaminated breast milk, or as nosocomial or community-acquired infection. Maternal GBS colonization, prematurity, young maternal age, HIV exposure, and ethnicity (Black) are identified as risk factors for LOGBS disease; however, further studies are necessary to confirm additional risk factors, if any, for the implementation of effective prevention strategies. This narrative review discusses current and previous studies that have reported LOGBS. Few well-designed studies have described this condition; therefore, reliable assessment of maternal GBS colonization, breastfeeding, and twin delivery as risk factors for LOGBS remains limited.