Professor Studies Potential Use of Vaccines for Infection in Newborns
A professor with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has recently received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for a study in researching the possibility of using vaccines to prevent a life-threatening infection in newborn infants. Dr. Jon Barrett, a professor with UofT ObGyn and head of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, is currently a co-investigator in this important study. The research project is focusing on Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease, which is a deadly bacterial infection, and is the leading cause of blood and brain infections in newborns.
Despite advances in treatment, many infants with GBS disease die from the infection, and of those who survive, up to half suffer long-term effects such as deafness, delays in mental function or paralysis. The highest risk of the disease occurs in the first week of life when the infection is acquired from the child's mother during birth. To prevent this from occurring, women are screened when they are 35-38 weeks pregnant to ascertain if the bacteria is present. Although antibiotics are provided to the women with this bacteria, it is not always completely effective. Researchers believe that the solution may be a vaccine that would be given to women during pregnancy to prevent GBS in newborns, however, there is currently a lack of evidence in Canada to support the use of a vaccine over antibiotics.
The study by Dr. Barrett and his colleagues focuses on the link between two unique sources of information in Ontario: a birth registry that includes information on all pregnant women and the birth of their child in Ontario; and health care information to find out whether and when the child became infected with GBS. The results will show how well current strategies of antibiotics are working, how much they cost and how this compares with the potential benefits and costs of a vaccine.
"GBS is still an important cause of mortality and morbidity and associated with the wide use of antibiotics," said Dr. Barrett. "This study will be able to reduce the effect of the disease, while at the same time limiting widespread antibiotic use."
The study, which began in April, will continue for the next three years. To learn more about this study, visit the CIHR website.
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