Risk factors for group B streptococcal disease in neonates of mothers with negative antenatal testing

J Perinatol. 2017 Feb;37(2):157-161. doi: 10.1038/jp.2016.201. Epub 2016 Nov 17.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for early-onset group B Streptococcus (EOGBS) disease in neonates of mothers with negative antenatal screening.

Study design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of neonates born to mothers with negative antenatal GBS screening between 2002 and 2012. Our primary outcome was EOGBS infection. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess factors associated with EOGBS.

Results: EOGBS was confirmed in 492 of the 179 818 neonates that met the study inclusion criteria. Risk factors for EOGBS included black race (reference: white, odds ratio (OR) =1.81 (95% confidence interval: 1.43, 2.31)), maternal age <18 years (reference: >35 years, OR=2.63 (1.54, 4.51)) and maternal age 18 to 35 years (reference: >35 years, OR=1.94 (1.30, 2.88)).

Conclusion: Maternal age <18 years and black race were the strongest predictors of EOGBS. Further research investigating contributors to the discordance between screening results and neonatal outcomes in these populations is needed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis
  • Black People*
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Maternal Age*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • North Carolina / epidemiology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control*
  • Prenatal Diagnosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Streptococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / isolation & purification
  • Young Adult