Invasive Group B Streptococcus Infections Caused by Hypervirulent Clone of S. agalactiae Sequence Type 283, Hong Kong, China, 20211

Emerg Infect Dis. 2025 Jan;31(1):149-154. doi: 10.3201/eid3101.231627. Epub 2024 Dec 11.

Abstract

During September-October 2021, group B Streptococcus bloodstream infections surged among patients hospitalized in Hong Kong. Of 95 cases, 57 were caused by the hypervirulent strain sequence type 283, which at the time was also found in freshwater fish and wet market environments and thus poses a transmission threat.

Keywords: China; GBS; Hong Kong; ST283; Streptococcus agalactiae; bacteremia; group B Streptococcus; meningitis; molecular epidemiology; pyogenic arthritis; sepsis; streptococcal infections; streptococci.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • History, 21st Century
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Streptococcal Infections* / epidemiology
  • Streptococcal Infections* / microbiology
  • Streptococcus agalactiae* / classification
  • Streptococcus agalactiae* / genetics
  • Streptococcus agalactiae* / pathogenicity
  • Virulence
  • Young Adult