Prevention of early onset group B streptococcal disease by universal antenatal culture-based screening in all public hospitals in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of maternal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS), and early onset GBS disease (EOGBSD) after implementation of universal screening.

Methods: This was a three-year retrospective cohort study on universal antenatal rectovaginal culture-based screening and intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis (IAP) to colonized women in the public sector in Hong Kong. Routinely collected data including maternal colonization and EOGBSD were retrieved.

Results: Of 113,989 GBS screening performed, 21.8% were positive. The colonization rate was higher in the public hospitals (higher risk) than in the Maternal and Child Health Centers (lower risk) (23.7% vs 18.1%, p < .001), while their false negative rates were not greater than expected. Majority of eligible women opted for screening, and colonized women received IAP. There were 29 cases of EOGBSD with clinical signs and a positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture. Compared to clinical risk-based screening, EOGBSD incidence decreased after universal screening (1 vs 0.24 per 1000 births, p < .001). Although EOGBSD occurred at a higher rate in preterm than term infants, 86.7% occurred in the latter, and were associated with a false negative screening result (41.3%), lack of screening (20.7%) or unavailability of a colonization result at labour (13.8%).

Conclusions: Maternal GBS colonization rate was higher than previously reported, and varied with different risk populations. EOGBSD reduced after universal screening.

Keywords:

• Group B streptococcus
• intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis
• incidence
• prevention
• risk factors
• sepsis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Government of HKSAR for the support on implementing the Culture-based Universal Prenatal Screening Programme for Group B Streptococcus (the Programme) and all colleagues of the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority for the collaboration and contributions to the Programme.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.