Gloria Berinyuy Tata, a research student at Mboalab Biotech in Yaounde, has emphasised the importance of practicing good hygiene among pregnant women to mitigate the risk of Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterium commonly found in our bodies. In an exclusive interview , Tata highlights that despite its presence, GBS can lead to severe invasive infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as newborns, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems, including pregnant women. Furthermore, Tata underscores the significance of raising awareness about GBS infection among parents and caregivers of newborns. Please find the following except for more details:
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Who is Gloria Berinyuy Tata?
Tata Gloria is a Cameroonian, originating from the North West Region precisely Banso. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a master’s degree in Immunology. Currently, she is working as a research assistant at Mboalab Biotech, which is an open and collaborative space located in Yaoundé, Cameroon. MboaLab aims to catalyze sustainable local development and improve people’s living conditions through open science.
How would you explain Streptococcus agalactiae in simple terms that a common person can understand?
Streptococcus agalactiae is a bacterium that is usually found in the human body, but it can cause severe invasive infections, especially in newborns, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems including pregnant women.
To what extent is Streptococcus agalactiae considered a serious threat to children’s lives?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this bacterium is the leading cause of preventable bacterial meningitis and sepsis in newborns. The incidence of invasive Streptococcus agalactiae infant disease in Africa is two times higher than in developed countries, and it accounts for one percent of stillbirths globally and four percent of stillbirths in Africa alone. The current methods to diagnose this bacterium either take too much time (3-4 days for completion) like the case of bacteria culture or like PCR techniques are quite expensive and need highly skilled personnel, thus limiting their application in resource-limited laboratories. Equally, the diagnosis of this bacteria is done systematically on pregnant women in developed countries however, this is not the case in Cameroon.
What are the main factors or causes that lead to the presence of this bacterium?
It is important to note that this bacterium is normally present in the human gastrointestinal and genital system. However, it becomes problematic when the immune system of the individual is compromised as in the case of pregnant women and newborn babies. The exact cause of GBS colonization is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to factors such as age, sexual history, diabetes, recent use of antibiotics, and medical conditions like HIV.
Considering the severity of this bacterial infection, what measures or solutions have you developed to address and prevent it?
Given the limitations in the current diagnostic methods, there is a need for a rapid diagnostic test for this bacterium that is highly specific, cheap, and most importantly can be easily applied in resource-limited laboratories. At Mboalab, we are developing a point-of-care diagnostic test based on the CRISPR Cas-12 technology to detect this bacterium.
Can you provide an assessment of the effectiveness of the solution currently in place for combating Streptococcus agalactiae?
Regarding disease diagnosis, early detection will always lead to early treatment and better management of the disease. It is essential to know that most integrated health centers in Cameroon don’t have the platform to carry out this diagnosis. Thus, having a point-of-care diagnostic test for this bacterium will greatly improve the implementation of its screening in such centers leading to early detection and better disease management.
What steps or actions will be taken following the implementation of the current solution?
If implemented, the first thing will be the continuous Monitoring and Evaluation of the test to ensure that it has the desired sensitivity and specificity. Equally, capacity-building workshops will be organized to educate and train laboratory technicians on how to use the test.
What message or advice would you like to convey to the general public regarding Streptococcus agalactiae?
While GBS colonization is common in healthy adults, it can be harmful to babies, especially during the first few months of life. Here are some important messages to convey to the general public regarding GBS: Pregnant women should be screened for GBS at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy. This screening is a simple and painless test that can help to prevent GBS infection in newborns. There are several things that pregnant women can do to reduce their risk of GBS infection including practicing good hygiene, avoiding douching, and using condoms during sexual- intercourse. Parents and caregivers of newborns should be aware of the signs and symptoms of GBS infection, such as fever, irritability, poor feeding, lethargy, seizures. If a pregnant woman is found to be positive for GBS, she will be given antibiotics during labor and delivery to prevent the baby from getting infected. Early diagnosis and treatment of GBS infection in newborns is essential to improve outcomes.
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