Increased risk of group B streptococcal sepsis and meningitis in HIV-exposed uninfected infants in a high-income country

• DOI: 10.1007/s00431-022-04710-6
• Publication Date: 2022-11-16T06:02:52Z
• Authors: Á. Manzanares; L. M. Prieto-Tato; L. Escosa-García; M. Navarro; S. Guillén; M. Penin; A. Hernanz-Lobo; B. Soto-Sánchez; J. Beceiro-Mosquera; I. Falces-Romero; J. T. Ramos-Amador; M.Á. Orellana-Miguel; C. Epalza
• Keywords: Group B; Etiology

The purpose of this study is to compare group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection incidence in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed (HU) infants in a Spanish cohort. We conducted a retrospective study in 5 hospitals in Madrid (Spain). Infants ≤ 90 days of life with a GBS infection were included from January 2008 to December 2017. Incidence of GBS infection in HEU and HU children was compared. HEU infants presented a sevenfold greater risk of GBS infection and a 29-fold greater risk of GBS meningitis compared to HU, with statistical significance. Early-onset infection was tenfold more frequent in HEU children, with statistical significance, and late-onset infection was almost fivefold more frequent in the HUE infants' group, without statistical significance.HEU infants presented an increased risk of GBS sepsis and meningitis. One in each 500 HEU infants of our cohort had a central nervous system infection and 1 in each 200, a GBS infection. Although etiological causes are not well understood, this should be taken into account by physicians when attending this population.• HIV-exposed uninfected infants are at higher risk of severe infections. • An increased susceptibility of these infants to group B Streptococcus infections has been described in low- and high-income countries, including a higher risk of meningitis in a South African cohort.• Group B Streptococcal meningitis is more frequent in HIV-exposed uninfected infants also in high-income countries. • Physicians should be aware of this increased risk when attending these infants.