Epidemiology of group B streptococcal infection in pregnant women and diseased infants in mainland China

Abstract

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and an important cause of maternal disease in many countries; however, no accurate population-based epidemiological data on GBS is yet available in mainland China. In this systematic literature review, we obtained published data regarding the maternal GBS colonization rate, incidence of invasive GBS disease in infants, clinical screening, and the associated GBS typing and clinical outcomes in China. The maternal GBS colonization rate in mainland China ranged from 3.7 to 14.52%, and the incidence of invasive GBS disease in infants was 0.55e1.79 per 1000 live births, with a case fatality risk ranging from 6.45 to 7.1%. Serotype III was the dominant serotype that was observed in GBS isolates. GBS detection and identification has become more commonplace, due to the availability of polymerase chain reaction and DNA microarray technologies. Immunizing pregnant women against GBS is an emerging approach through which newborns are protected from GBS. The available data suggest that five GBS serotypes (Ia, Ib, II, III, and V) account for the majority of the cases of GBS disease in mainland China. Furthermore, conjugate vaccines comprising some or all of these serotypes are of potential value in the prevention of GBS infection.

Identification of Group B Streptococcus Serotypes and Genotypes in Late Pregnant Women and Neonates That Are Associated With Neonatal Early-Onset Infection in a South China Population

“…GBS is the leading cause of neonatal bacterial infection during gestation and after delivery, with significant mortality rates in premature infants (3). In China, several studies have reported 0.55-1.79 cases of GBS-EOD per 1,000 live births and severe GBS infection cases (4,5). Vaginal GBS colonization in pregnant women is an important risk factor for neonatal GBS-EOD (6,7).…”

Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Pregnant Women in Jiangsu, East China

“…For example, the reported prevalence of GBS for Africa is 22.4%, Southeast Asia is 11.1% and Taiwan is 23.7% [13][14] . Unfortunately, largescale multicenter epidemiological studies on maternal GBS colonization in mainland China are still rare [15] .…”

Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Pregnant Women in Jiangsu, East China

“…For example, the reported prevalence of 5 GBS for Africa is 22.4%, Southeast Asia is 11.1% and Taiwan is 23.7% [13][14] . Unfortunately, largescale multicenter epidemiological studies on maternal GBS colonization in mainland China are still rare [15] .…”

“…Screening of pregnant women for GBS colonization during the third trimester, coupled with targeted intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) of colonized women during labor, has reduced the incidence of invasive GBS disease in industrialized countries [4] . GBS detection and identification has become more commonplace, due to the availability of polymerase chain reaction technology [5] . However, the traditional method of culture of GBS is still the gold standard.…”