High incidence of invasive group B streptococcal infections in HIV-exposed uninfected infants.
OBJECTIVE
The occurrence of an unusual number of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants who were followed in our center prompted this study. The objective of this study was to describe and compare the incidence and clinical presentation of GBS infections in infants who were born to HIV-infected and -uninfected mothers.


METHODS
All cases of invasive GBS infections in infants who were born between 2001 and 2008 were identified from the database of HEU infants and from the microbiology laboratory records. The medical charts of all infants with GBS infection were reviewed.


RESULTS
GBS invasive infections were described for 5 (1.55%) infants who were born to 322 HIV-infected mothers who delivered in our center. The incidence of GBS infections during the same period was 16 (0.08%) of 20 158 infants who were born to HIV-uninfected mothers. One HEU infant presented a recurrent infection 28 days after completion of treatment for the first episode. Late-onset infection was more frequent in HEU infants (5 of 6 vs 2 of 16 episodes in the control population). The diseases were also more severe in HEU infants with 5 of 6 sepsis or sepsis shock in HEU infants versus 10 of 16 in control subjects, and most HEU infants had leukopenia at onset of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of GBS infection was significantly higher in HEU infants than in infants who were born to HIV-uninfected mothers. These episodes of GBS sepsis in HEU infants were mostly of late onset and more severe than in the control population, suggesting an increased susceptibility of HEU infants to GBS infection.
Epalza
Cristina
C
Pediatric Department, St Pierre University Hospital, and Institute for Medical Immunology, Free University of Brussels, 322 rue Haute, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Goetghebuer
Tessa
T
Hainaut
Marc
M
Prayez
Fany
F
Barlow
Patricia
P
Dediste
Anne
A
Marchant
Arnaud
A
Levy
Jack
J
D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae