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Clinical and Microbiological Aspects of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease.

Allison Riddle, Silvana Carr B

Group B Streptococci (GBS) continues to be a universal agent that causes early onset sepsis in newborns. Universal maternal screening for recto-vaginal GBS carriage at 35-37 weeks’ gestation, combined with intra-partum antibiotic prophylaxis for colonized mothers, is currently the most effective strategy to reduce early-onset neonatal GBS disease. This strategy has not reduced the incidence of late or late late-onset GBS infection, for which environment is the typical source of GBS infection. It remains unclear whether greater antibiotic use in the peripartum period affects the incidence and antibiotic resistance profiles of GBS and other perinatally acquired bacterial infections. Vaccines against GBS may become the most effective and sustainable longterm preventive strategy.