Yuly López1, Elena Parra2, Virginio Cepas2, Isabel Sanfeliú3, Teresa Juncosa4, Antonia Andreu5, Mariona Xercavins6, Josefa Pérez6, Sergi Sanz2, Andrea Vergara7, Jordi Bosch7, Sara Maria Soto2. 1. Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) - Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: yuly.lopez@isglobal.org. 2. Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) - Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. 3. Hospital Parc Taulí de Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. 4. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain. 5. Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 6. CatLab, Hospital Mutua de Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. 7. Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) - Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Streptococcus agalactiae, or group B streptococci (GBS), is the main aetiological agent of early neonatal sepsis in developed countries. This microorganism belongs to the gastrointestinal tract microbiota wherefrom it can colonize the vagina and be vertically transmitted to the child either before or at birth, and subsequently cause infection in the newborn. Approximately, 50% of newborns born to women with GBS become colonized, with 1-2% developing early neonatal infection if no preventive intervention is performed. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare serotypes, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of GBS isolates collected from pregnant women and newborns in several hospitals in Catalonia. METHODS: 242 GBS strains were analyzed including 95 colonizers and 68 pathogenic strains isolated from pregnant women, and 79 strains isolated from neonates with sepsis in order to determine serotype, virulence and antimicrobial resistance. RESULTS: Serotype distribution was different among the three groups, with serotypes Ia and II being significantly more frequent among colonizing strains (p=0.001 and 0.012, respectively). Virulence factors bca and scpB were significantly more frequent among neonatal strains than pathogenic or colonizing strains (p=0.0001 and 0.002, respectively). Pathogenic strains were significantly more resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin and azithromycin than their non-pathogenic counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account that neonatal sepsis represents a significant problem on a global scale, epidemiological surveillance, antimicrobial resistance and GBS virulence at the local level could provide important knowledge about these microorganisms as well as help to improve treatment and prevent invasive infection caused by this microorganism.
INTRODUCTION:Streptococcus agalactiae, or group B streptococci (GBS), is the main aetiological agent of early neonatal sepsis in developed countries. This microorganism belongs to the gastrointestinal tract microbiota wherefrom it can colonize the vagina and be vertically transmitted to the child either before or at birth, and subsequently cause infection in the newborn. Approximately, 50% of newborns born to women with GBS become colonized, with 1-2% developing early neonatal infection if no preventive intervention is performed. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare serotypes, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of GBS isolates collected from pregnant women and newborns in several hospitals in Catalonia. METHODS: 242 GBS strains were analyzed including 95 colonizers and 68 pathogenic strains isolated from pregnant women, and 79 strains isolated from neonates with sepsis in order to determine serotype, virulence and antimicrobial resistance. RESULTS: Serotype distribution was different among the three groups, with serotypes Ia and II being significantly more frequent among colonizing strains (p=0.001 and 0.012, respectively). Virulence factors bca and scpB were significantly more frequent among neonatal strains than pathogenic or colonizing strains (p=0.0001 and 0.002, respectively). Pathogenic strains were significantly more resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin and azithromycin than their non-pathogenic counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account that neonatal sepsis represents a significant problem on a global scale, epidemiological surveillance, antimicrobial resistance and GBS virulence at the local level could provide important knowledge about these microorganisms as well as help to improve treatment and prevent invasive infection caused by this microorganism.
Authors: Kátia Andrea de Menezes Torres; Sônia Maria Rolim Rosa Lima; Luce Maria Brandão Torres; Maria Thereza Gamberini; Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior Journal: Microbiol Spectr Date: 2021-11-24