title: Prematurity is the major risk factor for late-onset group B streptococcus disease.
abstract: A case-control study was conducted in the greater Houston area to determine risk factors for late-onset group B streptococcus (GBS) disease (onset of disease or first positive culture between 7 and 180 days after birth). Characteristics of 122 case patients diagnosed during 1995-2000 were compared with control subjects matched for birth hospital and date of birth. Half the case patients were preterm infants, 84% of whom were born at <34 weeks of gestation. The risk for late-onset GBS disease increased by a factor of 1.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.56) for each week of decreasing gestation, by 3.70 (95% CI, 1.35-10.1) for infants of black mothers, and by 4.15 (95% CI, 1.27-13.60) for infants of mothers with a positive GBS screening. These risk factors are similar to that of early-onset GBS disease. However, prematurity is the major risk factor for late-onset GBS disease.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH/DHHS, 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 7B03, Bethesda, MD 70892-7510, USA. Link@exchange.nih.gov
authors.forename: Feng-Ying C
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Leonard E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Weisman
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Troendle
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D017668:Age of Onset; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae