Prevalence of Group B Streptococci in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Method: Results: ABSTRACT Group B Streptococcus ( GBS ) has been recognized as the leading cause of serious neonatal infections through mother-fetal vertical transmission in the west, however in India its spectrum is largely underestimated. Hence, the present study was carried out with an objective to find the prevalence of recto- vaginal carriage of GBS in the parturient women, admitted under Obstetrics department, of KLE’S, Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum and to observe the newborns for the signs of early onset neonatal sepsis in GBS positive women. This prospective study was conducted over one year on nine hundred five parturient women, more than 35 weeks of gestation Rectal and vaginal swabs were taken and cultured on selective Todd-Hewitt broth medium followed by subculture on blood agar and confirmation by latex agglutination test from all the women meeting inclusion criteria. The outcome measured were antenatal risk factors in mother, prevalence of GBS at the time of labour, birth weight of newborns and whether newborns required any NICU admission. Group B streptococcus ( GBS ) was found in 12.15% of total women recruited and detection rate was more by 4.6% with the inclusion of rectal swabs for culture along with vaginal swabs. GBS carriage was significantly increased with younger age of less than 19 years ( odds ratio[OR] 23.5,95% confidence interval [CI] 15.11-32.0) , preterm birth ( OR 8.3, 95% CI 1.1-15.5) , premature rupture of membranes ( OR 7.5, 95% CI 1.5-13.4) , prolonged duration of XI ruptured membranes of more than 10 hours ( OR 21, 95% CI 15.2 - 34.2) and intrapartum temperature of more than 38C ( OR 3.1, 95% CI 0.43 - 6.66) There was no significant association with the parity, previous bad obstetric history and mode of delivery among the GBS positive women. Birth weight of newborns of GBS positive women was significantly less than 2.5kg when compared to GBS negative women. Neonatal intensive care admissions ( 35.45% ) were significantly more in infants of GBS positive women Conclusion: GBS pick up rate was increased by the inclusion of both rectal and vaginal swabs and GBS colonization was more frequent in women with risk factors.