Research advance in prevention policies of neonatal group B Streptococcus infection

Abstract:

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is responsible for two distinct clinical syndromes in the newborn period categorised as either early- or late-onset GBS disease. Maternal GBS colonization of gastrointestinal tract or vaginal is the major risk factor for GBS diseases. There are two main strategies for identifying women at risk of giving birth to a GBS-infected infant: universal screening strategy and risk-based assessment. In the United States and other countries, the implementation of maternal intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis policies has significantly reduced the incidence of early-onset neonatal GBS disease, but has little effect on the incidence of late-onset GBS disease. Penicillin is the first choice for antibiotic prophylaxis treatment. GBS strains which are isolated from pregnant women who are allergic to penicillin should undergo antibiotic susceptibility testing. Antibiotic prophylaxis measures have some disadvantages, so researchers should actively develop other precautions to prevent GBS infection.