Vornhagen Jay, Adams Waldorf Kristina M, Rajagopal Lakshmi
Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Trends Microbiol. 2017 Nov;25(11):919-931. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.05.013. Epub 2017 Jun 17.
Group B streptococcus (GBS) or Streptococcus agalactiae is a β-hemolytic, Gram-positive bacterium that is a leading cause of neonatal infections. GBS commonly colonizes the lower gastrointestinal and genital tracts and, during pregnancy, neonates are at risk of infection. Although intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis during labor and delivery has decreased the incidence of early-onset neonatal infection, these measures do not prevent ascending infection that can occur earlier in pregnancy leading to preterm births, stillbirths, or late-onset neonatal infections. Prevention of GBS infection in pregnancy is complex and is likely influenced by multiple factors, including pathogenicity, host factors, vaginal microbiome, false-negative screening, and/or changes in antibiotic resistance. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of GBS infections during pregnancy will facilitate the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines. Here, we summarize and discuss important advancements in our understanding of GBS vaginal colonization, ascending infection, and preterm birth.
B族链球菌（GBS）或无乳链球菌是一种β溶血性革兰氏阳性细菌，是新生儿感染的主要原因。GBS通常定植于下消化道和生殖道，在孕期，新生儿有感染风险。尽管分娩期间的产时抗生素预防措施降低了早发型新生儿感染的发生率，但这些措施并不能预防孕期早期可能发生的上行感染，从而导致早产、死产或晚发型新生儿感染。孕期GBS感染的预防很复杂，可能受多种因素影响，包括致病性、宿主因素、阴道微生物群、假阴性筛查和/或抗生素耐药性变化。深入了解孕期GBS感染的机制将有助于开发新的治疗方法和疫苗。在此，我们总结并讨论在理解GBS阴道定植、上行感染和早产方面取得的重要进展。
