Group B Strep

OBJECTIVES: Outpatient health care facilities are essential for quickly diagnosing common infectious diseases such as bacterial and viral pharyngitis. The only form of pharyngitis requiring antibiotics is strep throat (ST); however, antibiotic prescription rates are much higher than ST prevalence, suggesting antibiotics are being inappropriately prescribed. Current rapid ST diagnostics may be contributing to this problem due to the low sensitivity and variable specificity of these tests...

BACKGROUND: Sample self-collection for reproductive tract infection diagnosis has been found to offer greater convenience, privacy, autonomy, and expanded access to testing in non-pregnant adults. This review aimed to determine whether sample self-collection is as accurate as provider-collection for detection of group B streptococcus colonisation in pregnancy and whether a strategy of self-collection compared to provider-collection might improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. METHODS: We searched CINAHL Plus, Medline, EMBASE, Maternity and Infant Care Database, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in June 2022...

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B strep, GBS) infections in neonates are often fatal and strongly associated with maternal GBS vaginal colonization. Previously, we highlighted the importance of a formerly uncharacterized protein, BvaP, in GBS vaginal colonization. BvaP is highly conserved across GBS and is made up of repeated domains, with a variable number of repeats between strains. Here, we evaluate the prevalence of BvaP repeated domains and their relevance in phenotypes previously associated with vaginal colonization...

Maternal colonization with Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an important cause of stillbirth, prematurity, and serious infection and death in infants worldwide. Resource constraints limit prevention strategies in many regions. Maternal GBS vaccines in development could be a more accessible prevention strategy, but data on geographic variations in GBS clones are needed to guide development of a broadly effective vaccine. In the Dominican Republic (DR), limited data suggest that pregnant women experience GBS colonization at rates among the highest globally...

The M protein of group A streptococci (Strep A) is a major virulence determinant and protective antigen. The N-terminal region of the M protein is variable in sequence, defines the M/emm type, and contains epitopes that elicit opsonic antibodies that protect animals from challenge infections. Although there are >200 M types of Strep A, there is now evidence that structurally related M proteins can be grouped into clusters and that immunity may be cluster-specific in addition to M type-specific...

Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) infections result in a vastly underestimated burden of acute and chronic disease globally. The Strep A Vaccine Global Consortium's (SAVAC's) mission is to accelerate the development of safe, effective, and affordable S. pyogenes vaccines. The safety of vaccine recipients is of paramount importance. A single S. pyogenes vaccine clinical trial conducted in the 1960s raised important safety concerns. A SAVAC Safety Working Group was established to review the safety assessment methodology and results of more recent early-phase clinical trials and to consider future challenges for vaccine safety assessments across all phases of vaccine development...

There is limited information on the human immune response following infection with group A Streptococcus (Strep A). Animal studies have shown, in addition to the M protein, that shared Strep A antigens elicit protective immunity. This study aimed to investigate the kinetics of antibody responses against a panel of Strep A antigens in a cohort of school-aged children in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants provided serial throat cultures and serum samples at two-monthly follow-up visits. Strep A recovered were emm -typed, and serum samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess immune responses to thirty-five Strep A antigens (10-shared and 25-M peptides)...

INTRODUCTION: Group B Streptococci (GBS) colonize almost one third of human gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, particularly in females. The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiology, microbiological characteristics, and clinical outcomes of invasive GBS disease in Qatar from all age groups. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with confirmed GBS blood stream infections during the period between January 2015 and March 2019. Microbiological identification was performed using automated BD PhoenixTM system, while additional antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed using E test and disc diffusion methods...

Group A strep tests in patients aged below 3 years are not recommended unless the patient has appropriate symptoms and a positive contact or signs of complications. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase the percentage of appropriately ordered strep tests among providers. Data were collected retrospectively and prospectively from 1163 patient visits. Providers were exposed to educational interventions, an electronic medical record order change, and provider feedback. Proportional control charts characterized the providers' behaviors and determined significant improvement among testing...

Introduction. Vaginal colonization of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is associated with preterm births and neonatal sepsis. Thus routine screening of GBS in prenatal care is recommended. Hypothesis. Chromogenic media (carrot broth) aids in specific and rapid detection of GBS. Aim. To investigate the efficiency of Strep B Carrot Broth for detection of GBS in high vaginal swabs from pregnant women. Methods. In this study 201 vaginal swab samples were collected from pregnant women. Swabs were inoculated in chromogenic media (Strep B Carrot Broth)...

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus canis is a group G beta-hemolytic Streptococcus species which normally resides on the skin and mucosal surfaces of dogs. Although it rarely causes infection in humans, our case and review of relevant literature demonstrate that this multi-host pathogen may be responsible for metastatic infection. We present an appropriate management strategy in such cases. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 26-year-old male presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of erythema, pain, and swelling of the left ankle and foot, consistent with acute cellulitis...

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can be caused by a variety of pathogens, of which Streptococcus pneumoniae, Influenza and currently SARS-CoV-2 are the most common. We sought to identify shared and pathogen-specific host response features by directly comparing different aetiologies of CAP. METHODS: We measured 72 plasma biomarkers in a cohort of 265 patients hospitalized for CAP, all sampled within 48 hours of admission, and 28 age-and sex matched non-infectious controls...

BACKGROUND: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF), an autoimmune reaction to Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes; Strep A) infection, can cause rheumatic heart disease (RHD). New formulations of long-acting penicillins are being developed for secondary prophylaxis of ARF and RHD. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the penicillin G concentrations required to suppress growth of Strep A. METHODS: Broth microdilution MIC and MBC for Strep A strains M75611024, M1T15448 and M18MGAS8232 were determined...

Background and Aim: The nasal cavity of a pig serves as an entry point and a habitat for the colonization of commensal microbes and pathogenic bacteria. Based on biochemical and serological tests, Streptococcus b-hemolytic Group C was identified as the Gram-positive bacteria, which resulted in the 1994 outbreak and death of thousands of pigs in Bali. Furthermore, this agent is zoonotic and frequently results in the development of meningitis lesions in the infected pig. Recently, a meningitis outbreak in humans was also reported after the consumption of pig-derived foods at Sibang Kaja, Badung-Bali...

BACKGROUND: The McIsaac criteria are a validated scoring system used to determine the likelihood of an acute sore throat being caused by group A streptococcus (GAS) to stratify patients who need strep testing. OBJECTIVE: We aim to compare McIsaac criteria obtained during face-to-face (f2f) and non-f2f encounters. METHODS: This retrospective study compared the percentage of positive GAS tests by McIsaac score for scores calculated during nurse protocol phone encounters, e-visits (electronic visits), and in person f2f clinic visits...

BACKGROUND: There are three different approaches set forth by the Committee on the Fetus and Newborn (COFN) for managing asymptomatic neonates born to mothers with inadequate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) for early-onset Group B Strep (GBS) infection. The first approach is that of categorical risk factor assessments, and recommends that asymptomatic infants born to afebrile mothers with inadequate IAP for GBS be monitored with clinical observation for 36-48 hours. The second approach recommends serial physical examinations and vital signs for 36-48 hours to closely monitor changes in clinical condition for all patients...

We present a severe case of orbital necrotizing fasciitis that was treated utilizing negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).  The conditions caused by the disease and the utility of the treatment were discussed. Additionally, the functionality and the process of the treatment were thoroughly analyzed. Potential complications from utilizing NPWT were also identified. When the patient was tested, it was found that he had intra op cultures with group B Streptococcus  pyogenes (Strep pyogenes). CT scans were also conducted to analyze his right lateral periorbital tissue...

The members of the infant microbiome are governed by feeding choice (breastmilk vs. formula). Regardless of feeding choice, a competitive growth advantage can be provided to commensals through prebiotics - either human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) or plant oligosaccharides that are supplemented into formula. To characterize how prebiotics modulate commensal - pathogen interactions, we have designed and studied a minimal microbiome where a pathogen,  Streptococcus agalactiae  engages with a commensal,  Streptococcus salivarius ...

BACKGROUND: Survivors of invasive Group B streptococcus (iGBS) disease, notably meningitis, are at increased risk of neurodevelopment impairment (NDI). However, the limited studies to date have a median follow-up to 18 months and mainly focused on moderate/severe NDI, with no previous studies on emotional-behavioural problems among iGBS survivors. METHODS: In this multi-country, matched cohort study, we included children aged 18 months to 17 years with infant iGBS sepsis and meningitis from health demographic surveillance systems, or hospital records in Argentina, India, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa...

BACKGROUND: Despite Group B streptococcus being a leading cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, no vaccine is currently available to prevent this disease. To inform vaccine developers, countries, and funders, we analyse in this paper the key factors likely to influence the demand for a GBS vaccine and the long-term financial sustainability for a commercial entity considering the development of such a vaccine. METHODS: By using population-based forecasting, we estimated the demand for a GBS vaccine based on the burden of disease, the strength of the maternal immunisation systems, the fiscal space, and the track record in introducing new vaccines...