Group B Strep Is Still Main Cause of Bacterial Meningitis in Newborns

Released: 3/2/2011 8:00 AM EST

But Preterm Infants Are More Likely to Be Infected with E. Coli, French Study Reports in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

Newswise — Philadelphia, Pa. (March 2, 2011) – The Group B Streptococcus is still the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in newborns, concludes a seven-year French study in the March issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

Group B strep remains predominant despite the recent introduction of GBS screening for women near delivery, according to the new report, led by Dr. Jean Gaschignard Hôpital Antoine-Béclère, Clamart, France. However, the situation is different for preterm infants—who are at higher risk of death, regardless of the cause of their meningitis.

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