Disease burden, antimicrobial resistance and molecular characterization of invasive group B Streptococcus among non-pregnant adults in Malaysia: A protocol study

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
• Main Authors: Abdulrahman Muthanna, Nurul Hana Zainal Baharin, Mohd Nasir Mohd Desa, Nurul Diana Dzaraly, Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai, Syafinaz Amin-Nordin
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023
• Subjects: group b streptococcus; incidence; serotype; antimicrobial resistance; virulence gene; multi-locus sequence typing; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4103/1995-7645.390165; https://doaj.org/article/fdcc220465b941d0ac0229b060d27479

Objective: To determine the prevalence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) isolated from non-pregnant adults from seven major hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia; the incidence, case-fatality ratio, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, serotype, genotype and distribution of the GBS virulence and pili genes are also investigated. Methods: This multicentre, prospective, observational study is conducted in seven major tertiary hospitals in Malaysia among non-pregnant adults. Simultaneously, a retrospective study is conducted in the selected hospitals with similar approaches. GBS isolates are subjected to phenotyping, serotyping by multiplex PCR, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and PCR-detection of GBS virulence and pilus genes. Seven housekeeping genes are amplified and sequenced for multi-locus sequence typing. Discussion: Findings from the study may contribute to the management of clinical practice to diagnose and prevent GBS related diseases in a timely manner. Prudent use of antibiotics is encouraged by monitoring antimicrobial resistance.