Neonatal Immune Responses during Group B Streptococcal Infections

Abstract

Group B streptococcus (GBS) still remains an important cause of neonatal sepsis in spite of various preventive strategies. The immune response of a neonate varies from an adult human immune system and makes a newborn more vulnerable to illness not typically manifested by adults. Microbial virulence, bacterial load, and immaturity of immune response system may explain the variation in severity of illness in term and preterm neonates. In this review, the mechanisms of GBS invasion and infection in a neonate are described. We also try to identify the host immune response to various bacterial components of GBS and possible future strategies to mitigate this immune response to improve neonatal outcomes after GBS sepsis.

Keywords

GBS - Host–pathogen - immune response - bacterial components - antibiotics - inflammation

• References

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