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Questions and Answers
What arrangement characterizes Strep. agalactiae microscopically?
What is a positive CAMP test indicative of?
Which test results would indicate GBS identification?
Where is GBS commonly found as part of the normal flora in healthy women?
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What types of serious infections can GBS cause in neonates?
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Which condition in pregnant women can GBS cause?
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What is the timeframe for early-onset neonatal GBS infection?
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Which virulence factors help GBS cause severe infections?
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What condition in neonates is more likely caused by late-onset GBS infection?
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What can GBS urinary tract infections in pregnant women lead to?
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Study Notes
Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
- GBS is a gram-positive cocci arranged in chains
- Characterized by the presence of antigen group B in the cell wall (Lancefield grouping)
- Positive result for CAMP test and sodium hippurate hydrolysis test
- Bicitracin resistant
Normal Flora and Opportunistic Pathogen
- Part of normal flora in vagina and lower gastrointestinal tract in healthy women (asymptomatic carriers), including pregnant women
- Behaves as an opportunistic pathogen, causing severe invasive infections
- Virulence factors: anti-phagocytic capsule and a pore-forming toxin (beta-hemolysin)
GBS Infections in Neonates
- Leading cause of bacterial neonatal infection during gestation, labor, and after delivery
- Significant mortality rates in premature infants
- Infections in the mother can cause:
- Chorioamnionitis (severe infection of the placental tissues)
- Postpartum infections (after birth)
- Urinary tract infections (UTI) that may induce labor and cause premature delivery
- Infections in neonates can present as:
- Fulminant sepsis
- Pneumonia
- Meningitis
- Respiratory distress syndrome
Clinical Syndromes in Neonates
- Early-Onset neonatal infection (EOI): manifests from 0-7 living days, mostly apparent within 24 hours of birth
- Late-Onset neonatal Infection (LOI): affects neonates from 7 days to 3 months of age, more likely to cause bacteremia or meningitis
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Description
Learn about the characteristics of Group B Streptococcus, including its arrangement, antigen presence, and test results. Also, explore its role as a normal flora and opportunistic pathogen.
