Group B Streptococcal bacteraemia - changing trends in a tropical region of Australia

Alizzi, Mohammed, Rathnayake, Romesh, Sivbalan, Pirathaban, Emeto, Theophilus I., and Norton, Robert (2022) Group B Streptococcal bacteraemia - changing trends in a tropical region of Australia. Internal Medicine Journal, 52 (5). pp. 800-807.

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Abstract

Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a recognised perinatal and neonatal pathogen. There are reports of increasing GBS sepsis globally outside this demographic. North Queensland is part of tropical Australia, with a relatively high proportion of Indigenous Australians.

Aims: This study aims to analyse the epidemiology of GBS bacteraemia and explore associated risk factors.

Methods: This was a 10-year retrospective review of GBS bacteraemia in a tertiary facility in North Queensland, between 2010 and February 2020. Data variables collected included; demographics, risk factors, clinical source and outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the association of Indigenous status and other relevant clinical factors with mortality from GBS bacteraemia at three months.

Results: Of the 164 total cases, 123 were not pregnancy related. The rate of GBS bacteraemia for the Indigenous population was 12.48 per 100, 000 and 4.84 per 100, 000 for the non-Indigenous population. Indigenous patients were more likely to be diabetic and have chronic kidney disease compared to the non-Indigenous patients. Males [AOR = 4.34, 95% CI (1.14, 16.56), P=0.031] and immunosuppressed patients, [AOR = 11.49, 95% CI (2.73, 48.42), P<0.001] were more likely to experience mortality at three months from GBS bacteraemia even after adjusting for other risk factors respectively.

Conclusion: GBS bacteraemia is deviating from being primarily a neonatal disease. While the Indigenous population of North Queensland have a disproportionate burden of GBS disease, the demographics affected differ. GBS appears to target the older non-Indigenous patients with greater comorbidities. In the non-Indigenous population, invasive GBS disease is an emerging issue. 3-month mortality appears to be increased in males and the immunosuppressed.

Item ID: 69257
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1445-5994
Keywords: Australia, Bacteraemia, Indigenous, North Queensland, Group B Streptococcus
Copyright Information: This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Date Deposited: 22 Sep 2021 01:56
FoR Codes: 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4202 Epidemiology > 420204 Epidemiological methods @ 40%
49 MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES > 4905 Statistics > 490502 Biostatistics @ 60%
SEO Codes: 20 HEALTH > 2001 Clinical health > 200101 Diagnosis of human diseases and conditions @ 60%
20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200404 Disease distribution and transmission (incl. surveillance and response) @ 40%
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