Persistence of group B Streptococcus vaginal colonization and prevalence of hypervirulent CC-17 clone correlate with the country of birth: a prospective 3-month follow-up cohort study.

To identify factors associated with vaginal colonization and persistence by group B Streptococcus (GBS) and by the hypervirulent neonatal CC-17 clone in late pregnancy and after delivery, a multicentre prospective observational cohort with 3-month follow-up was established in two university hospitals, Paris area, France. Pregnant women were recruited when antenatal screening for GBS vaginal colonization at 34-38 weeks of gestational age was positive. Vaginal samples were analysed by conventional culture methods at antenatal screening, delivery, and 21 and 60 days following delivery.

Risk Factors for Infant Colonization by Hypervirulent CC17 Group B Streptococcus: Toward the Understanding of Late-onset Disease.

Background: In infants, the mode of acquisition of CC17 group B Streptococcus (GBS), the hypervirulent clone responsible for late-onset disease (LOD), remains elusive.

Methods: In a prospective multicenter study in France, we evaluated GBS colonization in mother-baby pairs with 2 months of follow-up between 2012 and 2015. Criteria included positivity for GBS colonization at antenatal screening or at delivery.

Clinical and Laboratory Features of Group B Streptococcus Meningitis in Infants and Newborns: Study of 848 Cases in France, 2001-2014.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease is the leading cause of neonatal bacterial meningitis despite women receiving an intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis during labor. We aimed to describe GBS meningitis in children <1 year old in France.

Methods: Clinical and biological data of GBS meningitis gathered by the Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val de Marne (ACTIV) were analyzed.

Characterization of Streptococcus pyogenes isolates responsible for adult meningitis in France from 2003 to 2013.

Sixty-three cases of Streptococcus pyogenes meningitis in adults were studied. Three predominant emm types were associated with meningitis: emm1 (44%), emm3 (11%), and emm6 (11%). Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and mortality rates were 40% and 38%, respectively.

Comparative evaluation of 5 different selective media for Group B Streptococcus screening in pregnant women.

We compared the performances and the cost-effectiveness of 5 selective media for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening in vaginal samples from pregnant women. The usefulness of these media is unquestionable for GBS screening; the choice will depend largely on the laboratory organization.

Molecular characterization of Streptococcus agalactiae isolates harboring small erm(T)-carrying plasmids.

Among 1,827 group B Streptococcus (GBS) strains collected between 2006 and 2013 by the French National Reference Center for Streptococci, 490 (26.8%) strains were erythromycin resistant. The erm(T) resistance gene was found in six strains belonging to capsular polysaccharides Ia, III, and V and was carried by the same mobilizable plasmid, which could be efficiently transferred by mobilization to GBS and Enterococcus faecalis recipients, thus promoting a broad dissemination of erm(T).

[Maternal and perinatal infections to Streptococcus agalactiae].

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is a Gram-positive encapsulated bacterium, found in the digestive and vaginal tracts of 20-30% healthy individuals. It is the leading cause of neonatal invasive infections (septicaemia and meningitis). Two GBS-associated syndromes have been recognized in neonates, the early-onset disease (EOD) and the late-onset disease (LOD), which occur in the first week of life (age 0-6 days) and after (age 7 days-3 months), respectively.

Group A Streptococcus endometritis following medical abortion.

Medical abortion is not recognized as a high-risk factor for invasive pelvic infection. Here, we report two cases of group A Streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) endometritis following medical abortions with a protocol of oral mifepristone and misoprostol.