​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Meningitis in Neonates ( Streptococcus Agalactiae)

​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Meningitis in Neonates ( Streptococcus Agalactiae) 
Streptococcus agalactiae: 11 serotypes based on polysaccharide capsule, beta-hemolytic, catalase negative, Lancefield group B, Gram-positive coccus.
 Thirty percent of pregnant women have S agalactiae, which colonizes the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. 
Early-onset neonatal illness develops as a result of transmission to newborns, either during pregnancy or during delivery. After birth, late-onset neonatal diseases are passed from person to person.
Group B streptococcus is another name for clinical S agalactiae (GBS). It results in illness in both adults and newborns.

There are two categories of neonatal disease: early-onset and late-onset. Early-onset illness, which includes pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis with a high death rate and neurological aftereffects, is observed in babies younger than one week of age.
Late-onset illness occurs in newborns 1 week to 3 months of age and appears as bacteremia and meningitis. 

Adult illnesses include skin, joint, and soft tissue infections in immunocompromised people, bacteremia, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections in expectant mothers.

For colonization, the antiphagocytic polysaccharide capsule is essential. Babies don't have the particular antibodies required for opsonization. The inflammatory reaction of the host leads to pathogenesis.

A blood or CSF culture will reveal gram-positive, bacitracin-resistant, beta-hemolytic, catalase-negative bacteria.
Diagnosis cocci. There are several antibody-based assays, such latex agglutination, that can be used to quickly identify antigens.

Combination therapy with either penicillin or vancomycin together with an aminoglycoside antibiotic is utilized for treatment. Antibiotic prophylaxis in high-risk pregnancies during labor and screening pregnant women for vaginal colonization in the third trimester are examples of prevention. 

Premature birth, protracted membrane rupture, and vaginal colonization are risk factors.

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