Nosocomial Transmission of Bacteriophage Type 7/11/12 Group B Streptococci in a Special Care Nursery

Abstract

\s=b\Two premature infants in a special care nursery acquired late-onset group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis within a 24\ x=req-\ hour period. The infecting strains were serotype III organisms with bacteriophage type 7/11/12. Cultures of the mothers of the two affected infants were negative for GBS, implying nosocomial acquisition of infection. Although 32% of nursery personnel had mucosal carriage of GBS, none of the seven isolates of GBS type III was the same bacteriophage type as the two infecting strains. Of the other infants hospitalized in the nursery, five were asymptomatically colonized with GBS. These infants were in bassinets adjacent to the affected infants; all five of their isolates were identical to the two infecting strains. We conclude that infant-to-infant transmission may result in nosocomial late-onset GBS septicemia.(Am J Dis Child 134: [964][965][966] 1980)

Occasional Review: Group-B Streptococcus--Profile of an Organism

“…Cultures from within a pair could not be distinguished by sero-phage typing and the possibility of nosocomial infection could not be excluded. Similar infections have been described by Boyer et al (1980).…”

Outbreak of late-onset Group B Streptococcal disease with serotype Ib in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

“…Boyer reported that 34% of the nursing staff were identified as GBS carriers in association with a cluster outbreak of this infection. 7 Recently, Collin reviewed the overall incidence and prevalence of GBS clusters in healthcare settings, and identified only 12 reports focused on neonatal LOD over 50-year period. 4 Infant-to-infant or staff member-to-infant spread may occur via physical contamination.…”

Hospital clusters of invasive Group B Streptococcal disease: A systematic review

“…Culture survey results in one of the neonatal cluster studies showed that, of 7 affected infants, 5 had positive throat cultures as did 3 of 18 personnel on the unit (albeit without confirmed linkage to the cluster cases). 25 The index case in another neonatal cluster had pneumonia when transferred into the unit, 41 and one of the four adult clusters was attributed to respiratory transmission of GBS between patients. 46 Based on these findings and evidence of respiratory spread of GBS in childcare settings, 50 future investigation should consider assessing upper respiratory tract carriage as a possible means of GBS transmission.…”