Dear GBS discussion members
In Japan, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published the following guidelines in 2020. [*see note below]
GBS colonisation is confirmed using the following methods:
1) Perform GBS culture testing between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation.
2) Collect specimens from the vaginal introitus and the anus.
2. Administer intravenous antibiotics (such as penicillin) to the following pregnant women during vaginal delivery or after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) to prevent neonatal infection:
1) GBS identified (as per 1)
2) The previous infant had GBS infection
3) GBS detected in urine culture during the current pregnancy
4) GBS colonisation status unknown, with either ≥18 hours elapsed since membrane rupture or a fever of ≥38.0°C
(Sited in Japanese: https://minds.jcqhc.or.jp/common/summary/pdf/c00572.pdf)
A prospective study was conducted in selected prefectures of Japan over a 10-year period (January 2015–December 2024) involving pediatric patients aged from 0 days to under 15 years who developed invasive GBS infection. The incidence rates for early-onset disease (EOD; 0–6 days of age), late-onset disease (LOD; 7–89 days), and ultra-late-onset disease (ULOD; ≥90 days) were 0.02–0.04, 0.06–0.19, and 0.00–0.04, respectively. Regarding outcomes, 10 cases (2.8%) resulted in death, and 26 cases (7.3%) exhibited neurological sequelae. Maternal GBS screening was performed in 258 cases (73.5% of those with onset before 1 year of age), and 29.8% (77 cases) tested positive. Among mothers who tested positive, 76.6% (59 cases) had received prophylactic antimicrobials.
(Sited in Japanese: https://id-info.jihs.go.jp/surveillance/iasr/IASR/Vol46/547/547r06.html）
Kind regards,
Hajime
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
A dream you dream alone is only a dream.
A dream you dream together is reality.
Prof. Hajime Takeuchi, MD (Paediatrician)
School of Social Welfare
Graduate School of Social Welfare
BUKKYO University
96, Kitahananobo-cho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8301, Japan
TEL +81-75-366-5595 (dial-in), +81-90-8382-2490 (mobile)
E-mail: takechanespid@gmail.com
CHIFA profile: Hajime Takeuchi is a professor at the Bukkyo University in Japan. Professional interests: child health, child poverty, child wellbeing. takechanespid@gmail.com He is a CHIFA Country Representative for Japan and a member of the CHIFA Steering Group (child health and rights) http://www.hifa.org/support/members/hajime takechanespid AT gmail.com
[*Note from CHIFA co-moderator (NPW): Thank you Hajime for relating the experience of Group B Strep in Japan. All: We welcome comparative experience from other countries, as well as any personal or professional experience you may like to share.]