As GBS infections in neonates may be life-threatening, programs including screening pregnant women for carriage of GBS and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis have been implemented in an attempt to prevent these infections.5 and 6 Many reports have shown a reduction in vertical transmission of GBS and EOD in neonates following the introduction of these programs.7 However there is concern that the increased use of antibiotics in women during labor may lead to increases in antibiotic resistance among GBS isolates.7 Also, antibiotic susceptibility tests for resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin are important in cases of penicillin-allergic women who are at risk of anaphylaxis. In Korea, GBS screening and intrapartum prophylaxis are not done routinely, partly because cost-effectiveness has not been shown due to the relative infrequency of GBS infection.
The clinical characteristics of invasive GBS disease in infants in Korea are reported here. An analysis was performed of the serotype distribution of GBS isolates together with the antibiotic resistance patterns.