Long-term outcomes after group B streptococcus infection: A cohort study
RIS ID
129211
Abstract
Objective: To describe the risk of death and hospitalisation until adolescence of children after group B streptococcus (GBS) infection during infancy. Design: Population-based cohort study.
Setting: New South Wales, Australia.
Patients: All registered live births from 2000 to 2011.
Interventions: Comparison of long-term outcomes in children with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10th Revision discharge codes corresponding to GBS infections and those without.
Main outcome measures: Death and hospitalisation.
Results: A total of 1206 (0.1%) children (936 (77.6%)≥37 weeks' gestation) were diagnosed with GBS infection. Over the study period, infection rates decreased from 2.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.4) to 0.7 (95% CI 0.5 to 0.9) per 1000 live births. Infants with GBS infection were born at lower gestation (mean 37.6 vs 39.0 weeks), were more likely very low birth weight (g, OR 9.1(95% CI 7.4 to 11.3)), born premature (OR 3.9(95% CI 3.4 to 4.5)) and have 5 min Apgar scores ≤5 (OR 6.7(95% CI 5.1 to 8.8)). Children with GBS had three times the adjusted odds of death (adjusted OR (AOR) 3.0(95% CI 2.1 to 4.3)) or rehospitalisations (AOR 3.1(95% CI 2.7 to 3.5)). Thirty-six (3.0%) with GBS died, with >50% of deaths occurring (median 2 vs 1), for longer duration (mean 3.7 vs 2.2 days) and were at higher risk for problems with genitourinary (OR 3.1(95% CI 2.8 to 3.5)) and nervous (OR 2.0 (95% CI1.7 to 2.3)) systems.
Conclusions: Despite decreasing GBS rates, the risk of poor health outcomes for GBS-infected children remains elevated, especially during the first 5 years. Survivors continue to be at increased risk of death and chronic conditions requiring hospitalisations, such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
Publication Details
Yeo, K. Thai., Lahra, M., Bajuk, B., Hilder, L., Abdel-Latif, M. E., Wright, I. M. & Oei, J. (2019). Long-term outcomes after group B streptococcus infection: A cohort study. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 104 (2), 172-178.