Epidemiology of Group B Streptococcus in Saudi Parturient Women in a Private Hospital

Abstract

Objective: Maternal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS), during pregnancy, in the private medical sector has not been studied thus far and the objective of this study was to gather relevant data in the private medical sector. Methods: A retrospective, crosssectional, review of GBS colonization among all patients who delivered at Kingdom Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January, 2007 and December, 2010 was performed. Data on colonization rate, complications, antibiotics coverage and neonatal outcome were collected. Results: During the four year interval 246 women out of 3253 had antenatal GBS colonization (7.6%). Antenatal urinary tract infection was present in 55 (22.4%) and prelabour rupture of membranes in 65 (26.4%) of total 246 colonized women. There were no cases of maternal endometritis, septicemia or neonatal early-onset GBS disease. Intrapartum prophylactic antibiotic coverage was provided to 191 of 237 (80.6%) colonized women. Conclusion: Our results support that GBS colonization in the private medical sector in Saudi Arabia is less than that reported from the public medical sector. Antenatal urinary tract infection and pre-labour rupture of membranes are common co morbidities. We suggest a prospective randomized trial comparing public and private medical sector patients for the GBS colonization rate, risk factors for colonization and complications, along with long term health effects of antibiotics use. It will aid us to implement new protocols for GBS positive women.