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GBS rates, resistance support push for vaccine
Developing a vaccine to protect against group B streptococcal disease is becoming increasingly more important as the burden of disease rises, according to study data published online.
Theresa Lamagni, MSc, PhD, and colleagues from Public Health England reviewed laboratory data on 21,386 reports of invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) infection from across England and Wales from 1991 to 2010.
Theresa Lamagni
The researchers noted some trends, specifically that the “annual rate of reports doubled over the 20 years from 1.48 to 2.99 per 100,000 population. Significant increases were seen in all age groups but most pronounced in adults.”
The researchers noted another trend with erythromycin resistance, which rose from 2.5% at the beginning of the study to 15% in 2010; clindamycin resistance rose to 9% by the end of the study period.
The researchers said their findings make a strong case for continued research into the vaccine against GBS.
“Of the serotypes Ia, Ib, and III included in the trivalent GBS vaccine currently under clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01193920), these represented 76% of early-onset and 90% of late-onset infant disease over our study period, suggesting a reasonable coverage in this population,” the researchers said.
Theresa Lamagni, MSc, PhD, can be reached at theresa.lamagni@phe.gov.uk.
Disclosure: Lamagni reports no relevant financial disclosures.