title: Characteristics of neonatal GBS disease during a multicentre study (2007-2010) and in the year 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The characteristics of Group B Streptococcal (GBS) early onset (EOD) and late onset (LOD) neonatal infections in Italy were analyzed. Two periods were considered, a first 3-years period (2007-2010), when notification of GBS infections was enforced under the auspices of the Italian Ministry of Health, and a second 1 year period (2012) when reporting on neonatal GBS disease continued on voluntary basis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standardized form was used to collect data on cases of neonatal GBS disease. They included both maternal and neonatal data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two surveys underlined that preterm deliveries, precipitous labor and negatively GBS screened mothers are common causes of EOD occurrence, possibly explained by inadequate, or lack of, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. Nevertheless, measures for reducing prevention failures and EOD incidence by an higher adherence to prevention strategies, as the Centre for Disease Control recommendations, are still possible and should be encouraged.
authors: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. E-mail: roberta.creti@iss.it.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Creti
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Berardi
authors: Lucilla
authors: L
authors: Baldassarri
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Imperi
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Pataracchia
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Alfarone
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Recchia
mesh_terms: D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae