Risk factors for group B streptococcal disease in neonates of mothers with negative antenatal testing.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for early-onset group B Streptococcus (EOGBS) disease in neonates of mothers with negative antenatal screening.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective cohort study of neonates born to mothers with negative antenatal GBS screening between 2002 and 2012. Our primary outcome was EOGBS infection. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess factors associated with EOGBS.

RESULTS

EOGBS was confirmed in 492 of the 179 818 neonates that met the study inclusion criteria. Risk factors for EOGBS included black race (reference: white, odds ratio (OR) =1.81 (95% confidence interval: 1.43, 2.31)), maternal age <18 years (reference: >35 years, OR=2.63 (1.54, 4.51)) and maternal age 18 to 35 years (reference: >35 years, OR=1.94 (1.30, 2.88)).

CONCLUSION

Maternal age <18 years and black race were the strongest predictors of EOGBS. Further research investigating contributors to the discordance between screening results and neonatal outcomes in these populations is needed.