by A recent study conducted by the University of Cambridge and Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has found that newborn babies are at risk from a specific bacteria commonly carried by their mothers. The bacteria in question is Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Approximately one in five women have GBS present in their genital tracts, and it can affect newborns by causing sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection.
Previous research by the Cambridge team revealed that GBS was found in the placenta of around 5% of women prior to labor. However, unless screened, women may not know that they are carriers. GBS is responsible for an estimated 50,000 stillbirths and up to 100,000 infant deaths worldwide each year.
The recent study, published in Nature Microbiology, aimed to understand the link between the presence of GBS in the placenta and the risk of newborns being admitted to a neonatal unit. The researchers re-analyzed data from their previous study, which included 436 infants born at term, and confirmed their findings in a second cohort of 925 pregnancies.
From this analysis, the researchers deduced that placental GBS was associated with a two- to three-fold increased risk of neonatal unit admission. They also discovered that one in 200 babies admitted with sepsis had GBS, which is nearly ten times higher than previously estimated. Additionally, the current diagnostic testing identified GBS in less than one in five of these cases.
In the United States, all pregnant women are routinely screened for GBS and given antibiotics if they test positive. In the UK, however, only a minority of pregnant women are tested for GBS, primarily those experiencing complications or with other risk factors. Detecting GBS in the mother can be challenging, and it was previously believed that only a small percentage of babies exposed to the bacteria would become ill. Nonetheless, a randomized controlled trial of screening for GBS and treatment with antibiotics is currently underway in the UK.
Dr. Francesca Gaccioli from the University of Cambridge stated that the study’s findings significantly change the risk/benefit balance of universal screening in the UK. Traditionally, mothers in the UK have not been routinely screened for GBS.
To improve detection, the researchers developed an ultrasensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. This test amplifies tiny amounts of DNA or RNA from a suspected sample to check for the presence of GBS. The team has filed a patent for this test with Cambridge Enterprise, the University of Cambridge’s technology transfer arm.
Professor Gordon Smith, the Head of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Cambridge, hopes that the ultra-sensitive test developed by his team will lead to viable point-of-care testing to provide immediate neonatal care.
Further analysis of the study revealed that over a third of the babies’ umbilical cords showed significantly increased levels of cytokines, which are protein messengers released by the immune system. This implies that an extreme immune response, known as a “cytokine storm,” is responsible for the increased risk of disease associated with GBS.
In conclusion, the study highlights the potential risks of GBS in newborns and the need for improved screening and detection methods. By utilizing the ultrasensitive PCR test developed by the University of Cambridge researchers, it is hoped that healthcare professionals will be able to provide immediate neonatal care and better manage the complications arising from GBS infection.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
