Serial clustering of late onset group B streptococcal infections in the neonatal unit - a genomic re-evaluation of causality

Invasive Group B streptococcus (GBS) is major cause of serious neonatal infection. Current strategies to reduce early onset GBS disease have limited impact on late onset disease (LOD). A cluster of four LOD cases arose within one month in a single neonatal unit prompting epidemiological investigation and re-evaluation of the significance of LOD when it occurs in hospital.