Strengths and limitations
This study has several limitations that bear mention. First, its
retrospective nature raises questions about the applicability and
generalisation of the results to account for local strains and subtypes.
Second, several variables were underpowered, such as the rates of
hysterectomies and laparotomies, since the prophylactic antibiotic
analysis used only relatively small numbers. Furthermore, it was not
possible to identify specific risk factors (e.g., throat colonisation
and carriers among family members), which might serve as predictors for
a possible future screening system for GBS prophylaxis. Lastly, it is
very challenging to study the associations between emm types and
clinical manifestations due to the vast number of circulating emm types.