Postnatal antibiotic chemoprophylaxis does not have to prevent a devastating GBS neuroinfection in the newborn

The case study demonstrates the complexity and severity of the perinatal infection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS). The vertical transmission of GBS to a newborn occurred in a GBS negative mother. The neonate with muco-cutaneous GBS colonization and without signs of GBS sepsis was treated prophylactically using antibiotics. However chemoprophylaxis did not prevent developing severe and devastating neuroinfection (late onset GBS infection). Current preventive measures (screening of GBS in pregnancy, antibiotic chemoprophylaxis in GBS positive mothers, stratified infection monitoring in newborns, prophylactic treatment in high-risk newborns) have led to a significant reduction in the early neonatal GBS sepsis. The incidence of late invasive GBS infections has not been influenced by these approaches and the introduction of additional strategies to eliminate GBS complications is a priority and an imperative of perinatal care.

Keywords: Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), early‑onset and late‑onset neonatal sepsis, GBS meningitis.