Detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) from Antenatal Screening, Maternal GBS Colonization and Incidence of Early-Onset Neonatal Disease (GBS-EOD): A National Survey, December 2022 to February 2023, Italy.

ABSTRACT: Invasive neonatal GBS infections constitute a major cause of sepsis and meningitis in Western countries. Vaginal/rectal GBS colonization during pregnancy is the main risk factor for the development of early-onset infections (GBS-EOD) in newborn by vertical transmission at birth, in addition to prematurity and stillbirth. In Italy, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) to prevent GBS-EOD is offered to pregnant women who tested as GBS-positive in late pregnancy. Passive surveillance in Italy showed that a non-negligible number of GBS-EOD cases (about 50%) occurred from GBS-negative pregnant women. This finding prompted the launch of a national online survey from 15 December 2022 to 12 February 2023 to investigate the microbiological procedures followed for GBS identification in Italian pu

SUBMITTER: Sabbatucci M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12299446 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature