title: Group B streptococcal infections in the newborn infant and the potential value of maternal vaccination.
abstract: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal bacterial infections in developed countries. Early-onset disease (EOD) occurs at day 0-6 and late-onset disease occurs at day 7-89. Currently, the prevention of EOD relies upon intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) given to women who are GBS positive at prenatal screening or women with risk factors for EOD. Although successfully implemented, IAP has not fully eradicated EOD, and incidence rates of late-onset disease remain unchanged. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance may result from widespread antibiotic use. New prophylactic strategies are therefore of critical importance. A vaccine active against GBS, administered during pregnancy and combined with targeted IAP, could overcome these problems and reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with invasive diseases.
authors: a 1 Terapia Intensiva Neonatale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Modena, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Berardi
authors: a 1 Terapia Intensiva Neonatale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Modena, Italy.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Cattelani
authors: b 2 Reparto di Malattie Batteriche, Respiratorie e Sistemiche, Dipartimento MIPI, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Creti
authors: c 3 Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Reinhard
authors: R
authors: Berner
authors: a 1 Terapia Intensiva Neonatale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Modena, Italy.
authors: Zaira
authors: Z
authors: Pietrangiolillo
authors: d 4 Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l. - A GSK Company, Siena, Italy.
authors: Immaculada
authors: I
authors: Margarit
authors: d 4 Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l. - A GSK Company, Siena, Italy.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Maione
authors: a 1 Terapia Intensiva Neonatale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Modena, Italy.
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D000667:Ampicillin
keywords: Group B Streptococcus; early-onset disease; intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis; late-onset disease; newborn infant; pregnancy; prevention; sepsis; vaccine