Incidence of early and late onset group B streptococcal and Escherichia
coli neonatal infection after universal antenatal culture-based
screening of group B streptococcus in all public hospitals in Hong Kong:
a retrospective cohort study
Abstract
Objective: To compare the incidences of early and late onset neonatal
sepsis, including group B streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli
(E.coli) before and after implementation of universal screening. Design:
Retrospective cohort study Setting: Eight public hospitals with
obstetrics services under the Hospital Authority and 31 Maternal and
Child Health Centres (MCHC) under the Department of Health in Hong Kong
Population: 460552 women attending routine antenatal service from 2009
to 2020. Methods: Universal culture-based GBS screening was offered to
eligible women since 2012. Total maternity, births, GBS screening tests,
GBS isolated in maternal genital tract, neonatal sepsis with positive
blood or cerebrospinal fluid were retrieved from clinical and laboratory
database of the Hospital Authority using clinical data analysis and
reporting system (CDARS) and clinical system of MCHCs. Main outcome
measures: Maternal GBS colonisation rate, early onset GBS disease, early
onset E. coli infection, late onset GBS disease, and late onset E. coli
infection Results: Of 318740 women with universal culture-based
screening, 63767 women (20.0%) were screened positive. After
implementation of GBS screening, the incidences of both early and late
onset neonatal sepsis reduced significantly, including those caused by
GBS. There was no change in the incidence of early onset E.coli sepsis,
while the incidence of late onset E.coli sepsis reduced. Conclusions:
Universal culture-based GBS screening in Hong Kong has been successful
in prevention of early and late onset neonatal sepsis, including those
caused by GBS. E.coli has become more common than GBS in early neonatal
sepsis, although the incidence remained similar.