[Group B streptococci as a cause of neonatal infections in humans: epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment and prophylaxis].

This paper aims to draw the attention of Bulgarian gynecologists, pediatricians, microbiologists on group B streptococci as a cause of serious invasive neonatal diseases associated with high mortality rate or disability. Epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical features of the infection are described. Data on the antibiotic susceptibility and recommendations for treatment are presented. The main purpose of the paper is to lay particular stress on the importance of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for pregnant women who are positive for rectovaginal group B streptococcal colonization. This measure was introduced in the USA (guidelines from 1996, 2002, 2010 years), it proved its efficacy and now a lot of the European countries put efforts to adopt it in their health-care system.

[Screning study on pregnant women and neonatal infection with streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci)].

We report the results of a screening study on pregnant women and early onset neonatal group B streptococcal infections in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 2009-July 2010. Women were studied for risk factors at delivery, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (lAP) and outcome for the newborns. All GBS positive women who had risk factors at delivery gave birth to newborns with neonatal infection despite the IAP given in 50% of the cases. The majority of the GBS positive women who had no risk factors at delivery gave birth to healthy newborns although only 32% of them received IAP However 11% of the GBS positive women without risk factors delivered children with neonatal infection. We consider that IAP should be given to all GBS positive women to prevent from neonatal infection. The dominant GBS serotypes were ll, 11 and la. The isolates were 100% susceptible to penicillin, cefazolin, cefotaxime, vancomycin and 91.66% susceptible to erythromycin and clindamycin, the resistant strains being from the MLSB phenotype.

Prevention of group B streptococcal neonatal disease revisited. The DEVANI European project.

The purpose of this paper was to present the current knowledge on the prevention of group B streptococcus (GBS) neonatal infections and the status of prevention policies in European countries and to present the DEVANI pan-European program, launched in 2008. The aim of this program was to assess the GBS neonatal infection burden in Europe, to design a new vaccine to immunize neonates against GBS infections, to improve the laboratory performance for the diagnosis of GBS colonization and infection, and to improve the methods for the typing of GBS strains. The current guidelines for GBS prevention in different countries were ascertained and a picture of the burden before and after the instauration of prevention policies has been drawn. After the issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, many European countries have adopted universal screening for the GBS colonization of pregnant women and intrapartum prophylaxis to colonized mothers. Nevertheless, some European countries continue advocating the risk factor approach to GBS prevention. Most European countries have implemented policies to prevent GBS neonatal infections and the burden of the disease has decreased during the last several years. Nevertheless, further steps are necessary in order to develop new strategies of prevention, to improve microbiological techniques to detect GBS colonization and infection, and to coordinate the prevention policies in the EU.

[A study on early-onset group "B" streptococcal neonatal infection].

The results achieved with 80% reduction in the incidence of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis following the implementation of the preliminary (1996, 2002) and subsequently the revised (2010) guidelines for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis imposed the discussion on a large scale of the updated:--algorithms for GBS screening (35-37 weeks of gestation) with the recommended dosage of penicillin-G for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for women having normal labor and delivery;--algorithms for GBS screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for women with preterm labor (PPROM) or premature rupture of membranes (PROM);--intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis regimens for women with penicillin allergy;--algorithm for management of newborns with respect to risk of early-onset GBS disease. The present study is aimed at studying the distribution of the early-onset GBS disease in our country based on the data of leading obstetrics & gynecology clinics and wards. The aim is to diferrentiate clinically the cases and investigate the influence of the known risk factors on the part of the mother. A special accent is put over the microbiological diagnostics of cases in view of CDC expanded recommendations on the laboratory methods for identification of GBS. As a final conclusion the necessity for introduction of an official registration of the early- and late-onset GBS disease in the country is emphasized.

[Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborns in university hospital "Maichin Dom" EAD Sofia for the period 2008-2010].

For the period 2008-2010 in the University Hospital "Maichin Dom" EAD were born 10 774 babies. The newborns in the intensive care clinic (according to Apgar 1-5 min, the severity of RDS, the birth weight, gestational age, C-reactive protein and the values of blood tests) were screened for mother-fetal infections immediately after birth. The tests performed were blood culture, stomach aspirate, ear, anal and nose secretion, throat and tracheal aspiration (if intubation was performed). In case of meningitis liquor was tested. Standard therapy included Ampicillin/Sulbactam. The healthy, eutrophic children were also screened for bacterial mother-fetal infections--routinely ear and stomach aspiration. The babies, without clinical and paraclinical symptoms, but positive for GBS colonization, were also treated with Ampicilin. As a result from the screening and therapy no cases with meningitis were detected, as well as late neonatal sepsis caused by GBS.

A study on early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal infection, Bulgaria, 2007-2011.

This study examines neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) colonization and its relation to early-onset GBS disease (EOGBSD), based upon the experience of leading obstetrics and gynecology centers in Bulgaria. The objectives of the study were to update neonatal colonization rates and to assess relationships between clinically differentiated cases (culture-proven GBS newborns) and risk factors inherent to the infant and mother, using a computerized file. The neonatal GBS colonization rate ranged from 5.48 to 12.19 per 1000 live births. Maternal-fetal infection (MFI, a provisional clinical diagnosis in culture-proven colonized infants with initial signs of infection that is usually overcome with antibiotic treatment) and/or intrapartum asphyxia (IA) have been demonstrated as the most frequent clinical manifestations, with significant correlations for the primary diagnosis, but not affirmative for the final diagnosis at discharge, resulting from adequate treatment of neonates. MFI and IA were significantly related to prematurity, and reciprocally, prematurity was associated with the risk of MFI, indirectly suggesting that preterm birth or PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes, an obstetric indication associated with early labor and delivery, one of the major causes of preterm birth) is a substantial risk factor for EOGBSD. The regression analysis indicated that in the case of a newborn with MFI, a birth weight 593.58 g lower than the birth weight of an infant without this diagnosis might be expected. Testing the inverse relationship, i.e., the way birth weight influences a certain diagnosis (logistic regression) established the presence of a relationship between birth weight categories (degree of prematurity) and the diagnosis of MFI. The proportions and odds ratios, converted into probabilities that a baby would develop MFI, indicate the particularly high risk for newborns with extremely low and very low birth weight: extremely low birth weight (≤1000 g), the probability of developing a MFI is 66%; very low birth weight (1001-1500 g), 81%; low birth weight (the birth weight category including premature and small for gestational age term infants: 1501-2500 g), 40%; normal birth weight (term infants) (>2500 g), 32%. In conclusion, the need to introduce separate categories for early- and late-onset GBS disease in the registration nomenclature of neonatal infectious diseases is highlighted by these results. Drawing up intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) guidelines is also strongly recommended.