Streptococcus vaccine ’could prevent over 100,000 baby deaths worldwide’

Group B Streptococcus infection causes an estimated 150,000 preventable stillbirths and infant deaths every year. 21.7 million pregnant women carry this bacteria according to the first global study of Group B Strep - most of them are currently unidentified and untreated. The study shows for first time that a maternal vaccine may prevent 231,000 infant and maternal GBS cases. An estimated one in five pregnant women around the world carry Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria which is a major, yet preventable, cause of maternal and infant ill health globally. These are the findings of a new research supplement published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, and launched at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting in Baltimore. Led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and involving more than 100 researchers from around the world including Dr Jennifer Hall from UCL, the series of 11 research papers conservatively estimates that out of 410,000 GBS cases every year, there will be at least 147,000 stillbirths and infant deaths globally¹. Despite being home to only 13% of the world's population, Africa had the highest burden, with 54% of estimated cases and 65% of stillbirths and infant deaths.