PEDIATRICS Vol. 103 No. 6 June 1999, p. e77
ELECTRONIC ARTICLE:
Risk Factors for Early-onset Group B Streptococcal Sepsis:
Estimation of Odds Ratios by Critical Literature Review
Received Oct 1, 1997; accepted Jan 27, 1999.
, and
From the Departments of * Pediatrics and § Gynecology and
Obstetrics, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford,
California 94305; and
Maternal and Child Health Program, School of
Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California.
Objective. To identify and to establish the prevalence of ORs for factors associated with increased risk for early-onset group B streptococcal (EOGBS) infection in neonates.
Study Design. Literature review and reanalysis of published data.
Results. Risk factors for EOGBS infection include group B
streptococcal (GBS)-positive vaginal culture at delivery (OR: 204),
GBS-positive rectovaginal culture at 28 (OR: 9.64) or 36 weeks
gestation (OR: 26.7), vaginal Strep B OIA test positive at delivery
(OR: 15.4), birth weight
2500 g (OR: 7.37), gestation <37
weeks (OR: 4.83), gestation <28 weeks (OR: 21.7), prolonged rupture of
membranes (PROM) >18 hours (OR: 7.28), intrapartum fever >37.5°C
(OR: 4.05), intrapartum fever, PROM, or prematurity (OR: 9.74),
intrapartum fever or PROM at term (OR: 11.5), chorioamnionitis (OR:
6.43). Chorioamnionitis is reported in most (88%) cases in which
neonatal infection occurred despite intrapartum maternal antibiotic
therapy. ORs could not be estimated for maternal GBS bacteriuria during pregnancy, with preterm premature rupture of membranes, or with a sibling or twin with invasive GBS disease, but these findings seem to
be associated with a very high risk. Multiple gestation is not an
independent risk factor for GBS infection.
Conclusions. Mothers with GBS bacteriuria during pregnancy, with another child with GBS disease, or with chorioamnionitis should receive empirical intrapartum antibiotic treatment. Their infants should have complete diagnostic evaluations and receive empirical treatment until infection is excluded by observation and negative cultures because of their particularly high risk for EOGBS infection. Either screening with cultures at 28 weeks gestation or identification of clinical risk factors, ie, PROM, intrapartum fever, or prematurity, may identify parturients whose infants include 65% of those with EOGBS infection. Intrapartum screening using the Strep B OIA rapid test identifies more at-risk infants (75%) than any other method. These risk identifiers may permit judicious selection of patients for prophylactic interventions. Key words: group B streptococcus, neonatal sepsis, early-onset sepsis, risk factors, prevention.
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