Group B Streptococcus infection in pregnant women and newborns: clinical case and current state of the problem

Nikitina I.V., Krogh-Jensen O.A., Budina A.Yu., Gordeev A.B., Zubkov V.V., Degtyarev D.N., Priputnevich T.V., Lenyushkina A.A.

1) Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia; 2) I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; 3) N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a significant cause of neonatal infections, particularly early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS). This article presents a clinical case of an atypical course of systemic early neonatal infection caused by GBS in a preterm baby born at 36 weeks of gestation. The initial clinical manifestations, including pronounced hyperbilirubinemia and anemia, were more commonly associated with hemolytic disease of the newborn rather than GBS infection. A comprehensive analysis of the patient's course, clinical and laboratory data is provided, along with a comparison to current global findings. The publication also reviews the epidemiology, etiology, and diagnosis of GBS infections in pregnant women and newborns, with a specific focus on screening and timely diagnosis to reduce the severe outcomes associated with GBS infections in newborns.
Conclusion: Implementing prenatal screening measures, in conjunction with rapid microbiology and molecular genetic research methods, enables the prompt verification of premature newborn diagnoses. This approach facilitates the timely initiation of etiopathogenetic therapy and helps prevent the development of disabling complications.

Authors' contributions: Nikitina I.V., Krog-Jensen O.A. – conception of the study; Nikitina I.V., Krog-Jensen O.A.,
Budina A.Yu. – drafting of the manuscript; Nikitina I.V., Lenyushkina A.A., Gordeev A.B., Zubkov V.V., Priputnevich T.V., Degtyarev D.N. – manuscript editing.
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: The study was conducted within the framework of the state assignment of the V.I. Kulakov NMRC for OG&P, Ministry of Health of Russia for 2021–2023 "Early minimally invasive diagnosis and prediction of infectious and inflammatory diseases in newborns using modern echographic, microbiological, immunological and molecular genetic research methods", 121032500123-2.
Patient Consent for Publication: The mother of the newborn provided informed consent for the publication of the data.
For citation: Nikitina I.V., Krogh-Jensen, Budina A.Yu., Gordeev A.B., Zubkov V.V., Degtyarev D.N., Priputnevich T.V., Lenyushkina A.A. Group B Streptococcus infection
in pregnant women and newborns: clinical case and current state of the problem.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023; (9): 180-190 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.136

Keywords

Streptococcus agalactiae
newborn
group B streptococcus infection
pregnant women
hemolysis

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Received 24.05.2023

Accepted 03.07.2023

About the Authors

Irina V. Nikitina, Dr. Med. Sci., Leading Researcher at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit №2 of the Institute of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Professor at Neonatology Department, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, +7(495)531-44-44, ex. 2700, 2697, i_nikitina@oparina4.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1103-1908, Researcher ID: AAH-3465-2019, Scopus ID: 57189233499, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4.
Olga A. Krogh-Jensen, Ph.D., Neonatologist at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit №2 of the Institute of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4; Associate Professor at the Neonatal Department, Pediatric Faculty, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya str., 8-2,
+7(926)014-01-35, o_krogh@oparina4.ru, olgaborisevich@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5178-5659, Scopus Author ID: 57214220453.
Arina Yu. Budina, Medical resident at the Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, budinaarina@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8893-7639, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4.
Alexey B. Gordeev, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Microbiology, Antimicrobial Therapy and Epidemiology, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, +7(916)226-86-67,
a_gordeev@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9171-5276, Researcher ID: T-4072-2018, Scopus ID: 24331513200, Elibrary: SPIN-код: 6479-1248, AuthorID: 614924, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4.
Viktor V. Zubkov, Dr. Med. Sci., Director of the Institute of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4; Professor at Neonatal Department at Pediatric Faculty,
I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya str., 8-2,
victor.zubkov@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9697-9596
Dmitriy N. Degtyarev, Dr. Med. Sci., Vice Director, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology,
Ministry of Health of Russia; Professor of Neonatology Department, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology,
Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4; Professor, Head of Neonatal Department at Pediatric Faculty, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya str., 8-2, +7(495)438-25-33, d_degtiarev@oparina4.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8975-2425
Tatiana V. Priputnevich, Dr. Med. Sci., Corresponding Member of RAS, Head of the Institute of Microbiology, Clinical Pharmacology and Epidemiology, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4;
Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Pediatrics, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1, +7(495)438-25-10, ex. 2770, priput1@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4126-9730
Anna A. Lenyushkina, Ph.D., Head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit №2 of the Institute of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Associate Professor at Neonatology Department, +7(495)531-44-44, ex. 2700, 2697, a-lenushkina@yandex.ru, Scopus ID: 57202802436, WOS ID: AAJ-6896-2021, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8929-2991, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4.

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