2012 Little change in preventable group B Strep infections in England, Wales & Northern Ireland combined

2012 Little chance in preventable group B Strep infections in England, Wales & Northern Ireland combined

The incidence of GBS infection in babies remained relatively unchanged in 2011 compared with 2010 in England & Wales, though there has been a welcome fall in Northern Ireland*.  The reason for this fall is unclear although the numbers for Northern Ireland need to be treated with caution due to small sample sizes. However, the effect of the local awareness campaign of 2011 cannot be ruled out.

The overall trend in England, Wales & Northern Ireland is of a rising incidence of group B Strep infections in babies, despite national guidelines.  The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists introduced Green Top Guideline 36 against GBS infection in newborn babies in 2003.  The  number of reported cases in England, Wales & Northern Ireland for 2004, the following year, and for 2011 are:

2004 : England, Wales & Northern Ireland

207 (0.32 per 1,000 live births) early-onset GBS infections in babies aged 0-6 days
104 (0.16 per 1,000 live births) late-onset GBS infections in babies aged 7-90 days

2011 : England, Wales & Northern Ireland

281 (0.38 per 1,000 live births) early-onset GBS infections in babies aged 0-6 days
192 (0.26 per 1,000 live births) late onset GBS infections in babies aged 7-90 days

The early-onset GBS infections which are often potentially preventable by identifying situations which mean a baby is at raised risk of developing GBS infection in the first few days of life and offering the the mother intravenous antibiotics in labour to minimise that risk.  These recognised ‘risk factors’ are listed here.   Until a vaccine is developed, the late-onset GBS infections are not currently preventable – early recognition of  signs and symptoms consistent with late onset GBS infection and early treatment is vital.

Disappointingly, reported early-onset GBS infections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined increased between 2004 and 2011 by over 35%, with the rate per 1,000 live births increasing by almost 20%. The change since 2010 has been minimal.

The situation in Northern Ireland is markedly different, although the samples sizes are small and therefore it is difficult to reach conclusions from the data.  However, the data shows that reported early onset GBS infections almost halved, from 11 (0.51 per 1,000 live births) in 2004 to 6 (0.47 per 1,000) in 2011.  Reported late onset GBS infections increased from 3 (0.14 per 1,000 live births) in 2004 to 12 (0.47 per 1,000) in 2011.

*GBS infections in babies aged 0-90 days are reported on a voluntary basis to the Health Protection Agency and reported each November. Data are not collected for stillborn babies. Click on this link to read the reports from 2001 to 2011.