Epidemiology of group b streptococci (gbs) in mothers and infants

ABSTRACT The incidence of neonatal GBS disease in Israel is strikingly low. As neonatal GBS colonization and disease directly relates to maternal GBS carriage, we sampled the maternal and

infant Jerusalem population for GBS colonization and surveyed GBS neonatal disease to ascertain the epidemiologic relationships. As GBS serotypes vary in their virulence we also analyzed the

prevalence of the different serotypes of GBS isolates. In 1984, GBS colonization of 254 Jewish women and 189 Arab women was 5.4% and 1.6% respectively. In 1987 the rate in 116 Jewish women

was 3.5%. Colonization of infants from the same mothers was 1.8%, 1.3% and 1.1% respectively. Differences between these rates was not significant. GBS neonatal disease for the period

1982-1987 was 0.2/1000 live births. Serotype distribution from 150 isolates was Type I 45%, Type II 17%, Type III 13%, other 24%. Our data documenting the low prevalence of GBS colonization

in mothers and infants and the low incidence of neonatal GBS disease supports the hypothesis that maternal GBS colonization is the major determinant of GBS neonatal disease. Furthermore the

low prevalence of the virulent GBS serotype III may further explain the low attack rate. ARTICLE PDF AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Departs, of

Neonat, Clin Microb and Infect Dis., Makassed General Hospital, Depart Obstet, Jerusalem, Israel Arthur I Eidelman, B Rudensky, M S Schimmel, D Turgeman, N Nubani & M Isacsohn Authors *

Arthur I Eidelman View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * B Rudensky View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

Google Scholar * M S Schimmel View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * D Turgeman View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar * N Nubani View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * M Isacsohn View author publications You can also search for this

author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Eidelman, A., Rudensky, B., Schimmel, M. _et al._ EPIDEMIOLOGY OF GROUP B

STREPTOCOCCI (GBS) IN MOTHERS AND INFANTS. _Pediatr Res_ 26, 512 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198911000-00079 Download citation * Issue Date: 01 November 1989 * DOI:

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