Risk Factors and Mortality Rates Associated With Invasive Group B Streptococcus Infections Among Patients in the US Veterans Health Administration.

Importance: The incidence of invasive infections caused by group B Streptococcus (GBS) continues to increase in the United States. Although diabetes is a key risk factor for invasive GBS, the influence of long-term glycemic control is not well characterized; other risk factors and mortality rates associated with specific types of invasive GBS infections are unknown.

Objective: To investigate risk factors and mortality rates associated with specific invasive GBS infectious syndromes.

A positive pneumococcal urinary antigen test promotes narrow spectrum antibiotic use in patients with non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia.

Background: We compared changes in antibiotics in patients diagnosed with noninvasive pneumococcal pneumonia (NPP) by pneumoccocal urinary antigen tests or respiratory cultures.

Methods: We compared patients diagnosed by pneumococcal urinary antigen tests or respiratory cultures that grew Streptococcus pneumoniae. We assessed the time from sample receipt to final result and antibiotic regimens, including an Antibiotic Spectrum Index (ASI).