Streptococcus Group B Infections Follow-up
- Author: Christian J Woods, MD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD more...
Deterrence/Prevention
- Both chemoprophylaxis and immunoprophylaxis have been studied as a means to prevent group B streptococcal infection in neonates.
- While a group B streptococcal vaccine to prevent infection in women of childbearing age has been studied, an FDA–licensed vaccine in not yet available. Investigational vaccine studies are underway.
- Chemoprophylaxis has been shown to be efficacious in neonates. A significant decline in neonatal infections over the past decade may be a result of this national standard.
- The only approach for preventing group B streptococcal infection in nonpregnant adults is to adhere to infection control practices, as a significant number of these infections are nosocomial. The percentage of infections that can be prevented is unknown, as single nosocomial cases are common but a clustering of cases is rare.
Complications
- Group B streptococcal infection in healthy women is usually amenable to therapy without major sequelae.
- Neonatal infection, which still results in significant morbidity and mortality, has become less common and is more likely to have a better outcome because of chemoprophylaxis and early recognition of infection in infants.
- Group B streptococcal infection in the nonpregnant adult carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality, even with early and appropriate therapy. The prognosis may be improved with a high index of clinical suspicion, initiation of early therapy after cultures are obtained, and procurement of an appropriate surgical opinion and adequate surgical intervention, when necessary.
Prognosis
- Group B streptococcal infection in healthy women carries an excellent prognosis. In neonates, the infection carries a better prognosis than it once did but still results in significant morbidity and mortality. Nonpregnant adults with group B streptococcal infection are typically elderly with comorbid conditions. Therefore, high mortality rates are inherent in those who develop infection.
- Nonpregnant adults who survive group B streptococcal infection typically retain the underlying risk factor that originally placed them at risk for infection; therefore, the long-term prognosis in these patients is still poor.
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