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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Group B streptococcus is a serious infection among newborns as well as adults. New research finds new guidelines for prevention of Strep B in newborns are working to reduce the number of cases, but this latest research finds an increase in the number of cases of Strep B among adults.
For the study, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at data on confirmed Strep B cases in 10 states. From 1999 to 2005, they identified 14,573 cases of invasive group B streptococcal disease, of which 1,232 were in infants in their first week of life. Researchers say the number of cases decreased 27 percent in infants after the new guidelines in 2002.
In adults, the findings were much different. Group B strep incidence increased 48 percent for those age 15 to 64 and 20 percent in those 65 years or older. When combined, it equals a 32 percent increase in the overall incidence of adult disease.
"Maternal group B streptococcus vaccination trials should be a public health priority, followed by expanded vaccine development to target disease among elderly and younger adults with chronic underlying conditions," study authors write.
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SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008;299:2056-2065
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