Work

Recurrence of Streptococcus agalactiae bacteremia – risk factors and complications

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence and risk factors for Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) bacteremia recurrence in patients following first episode of GBS bacteremia. Methods This was a retrospective observational study evaluating admitted patients from 1/1/2016 to 12/31/2019. Non-pregnant patients ≥ 18 years old with GBS bacteremia were included. Recurrence was defined as admission due to GBS bacteremia within 1 year after a positive GBS blood culture. Results Nineteen out of 388 patients with GBS bacteremia had recurrence. There was a significant increase in recurrence in patients allergic to β-lactams, in patients with implantable cardiac devices (ICDs), and in patients who did not receive β-lactams or vancomycin as empiric treatment. The estimated odds of recurrence in patients with allergy to β-lactams was 3.1 times the odds of recurrence without allergy after adjusting for ICD status (95% CI, 1.1 – 8.9, p <0.04). The estimated odds for recurrence in patients with ICDs were 5.8 times the odds of patients without ICDs controlling for β-lactam allergy (95% CI, 1.7 – 19.9, p <0.01). Conclusions Our study suggests that GBS bacteremia recurrence is associated with presence of ICDs, β-lactam allergy, and not having received β-lactams or vancomycin as initial treatment.

Source: Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2025.05.003