Estimating predictors of severity of Group A Streptococcus infection in
pregnancy
Abstract
Objective: To identify the clinical characteristics of pregnancy
associated group A streptococcus (GAS) infection and predictors for
intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Design: A retrospective cohort
study of culture-proven pregnancy-related GAS infections. Setting and
population: a tertiary university-affiliated hospital between
1/2008-7/2020. Methods: Review patient’s electronic records of patients.
Main outcome measures: Incidence of pregnancy associated GAS, proportion
given prophylaxis and admission to ICU. Results: Of the 143,750 who
delivered during the study period, 66 (0.04%) were diagnosed as having
a pregnancy associated GAS infection. Fifty-seven of them (86.3%)
presented postpartum, and nine (13.6%) had septic abortions. The most
common presenting signs and symptoms among puerperal GAS, were
postpartum pyrexia (72%), abdominal pain and/or tenderness (33%), and
tachycardia (>100 bpm, 22%). Thirteen women (19.6%)
developed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS): 10 of them
delivered vaginally, two had caesarean deliveries. Predictors for STSS
and ICU admission were: antibiotic administration >24 hours
from presentation postpartum, tachycardia, and a C-reactive protein
level >200 mg/L. Women that received antibiotic prophylaxis
during labour had a significantly lower rate of STSS (0 vs 10, 22.7%; P
= 0.04), as evidenced by the delayed interval from delivery to the first
presentation of infection among those who received prophylaxis during
labour (8 ± 4.8 vs 4.8 ± 4.2 hours, P = 0.008). Conclusion: Deferral of
medical intervention >24 hours from the first registered
abnormal sign had the most important impact on deterioration of women
with invasive puerperal GAS. Antibiotic prophylaxis during labour in
women with GAS may reduce complications