Clinical analysis of 2 siblings with late-onset meningitis caused by group B streptococcus which were homogenous to the colonization bacteria of their mother

Objective To raise awareness of the late-onset meningitis caused by group B streptococcus (GBS) which was homogenous to the maternal colonization. Methods The clinical data of late-onset GBS meningitis in neonates twins whose pathogens were homogenous to their maternal colonization were collected from Department of Neonatology, Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center.The general conditions, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and drug treatment of the twins and their mother were retrospectively analyzed, and the GBS homology during inpatient care was tested.And the progress of the twins′ condition was investigated by telephone follow-up. Results The mother had two pregnancies without prenatal GBS screening or intrapartum antimicrobial intervention for GBS, everything was normal during pregnancy and delivery.Twins were born through cesarean section.The elder sister was discharged with Linezolid taken orally after 167 days in hospital without convulsions, shaking or other discomfort.The elder sister was followed up for every 2 weeks, and in the last time of follow-up, cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell counts were 45×106/L, protein level was 1.52 g/L and Linezolid was withdrawn.The younger brother was discharged after 58 days in hospital with follow-up for every 2 weeks, and in the last time of follow-up, cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell counts were 30×106/L, protein level was 0.66 g/L.During the hospitalization and follow-up without convulsions and irritation, and the cranial magnetic resonance imaging of the twin brother was normal.Test results showed that the GBS bacteria strain for twins and their mother were all serotype Ⅲ.The possibility of the GBS homology was more than 90%. Conclusions The toxicity of serotype Ⅲ GBS strain was strong.More proactive precautions should be considered to apply for the mother whose first birth already had GBS infection.Early identification and intervention of infection risk factors would help optimize the anti-infection treatment program and reduce nerve system damage and other adverse outcomes caused by invasive GBS infection. Key words: Group B streptococcus; Infant, newborn; Meningitis