Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a common cause of infections in pregnant females and non-pregnant adults with chronic diseases (such as diabetes and cancer), also it is the main reason of septicaemia and meningitis in infants. The aim of this study was to figure out how common GBS is in pregnant women, the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of the isolated GBS colonies and check the presence of scpB and rib virulence genes in these isolates. We screened 203 pregnant women attending the Maternity Hospital of Ain Shams University using vaginal sampling. Isolation was done on CHROMagarTM Strep B and sheep blood agar plates then identified via colony characters, Gram stain, test for catalase production, Christie–Atkins–Munch-Petersen (CAMP) test, test for hippurate hydrolysis and latex agglutination test. This was followed by an antibiotic susceptibility test. Finally, Detection of scpB and rib virulence genes by conventional PCR was done. Our study detected that the prevalence rate of GBS in involved pregnant women was 11.33%. A statistically significant association between colonization and history of spontaneous abortion and preterm labor was observed. CHROMagar™ StrepB showed the same sensitivity of sheep blood agar with extensive effort to isolate suspected GBS colonies from blood agar. GBS was 100% sensitive to levofloxacin, linezolid, cefepime, ceftaroline and ceftriaxone. Also, it was highly sensitive to vancomycin (91.3%). Sensitivity to clindamycin, azithromycin, penicillin and ampicillin was (21.70%, 21.70%,47.80%, 47.80%) respectively. The least sensitivity of GBS was to erythromycin ( 8.7%). All isolates possessed the scpB gene (100%) while only 18 isolates (78.26%) had the rib gene.
Highlights
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is detected in 10-30% of pregnant women as a colonizing agent in the vagina and/ or rectum
CHROMagarTM Strep B showed the same sensitivity of sheep blood agar with extensive effort to isolate suspected GBS colonies from blood agar
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended two methods for detecting pregnant women, which were first published in 1996 and subsequently revised in 2002 and 2010: either a risk-based method of detecting clinical risk factors for newborn illness and administering intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) to all cases demonstrating any of these risk factors, or a universal screening for GBS by obtaining rectovaginal cultures between 35 and 37 weeks of pregnancy[5,6]
Summary
GBS is detected in 10-30% of pregnant women as a colonizing agent in the vagina and/ or rectum. The infants of these women may be at high risk of developing disease if they exposed to this bacteria before or after birth[1,2]. Early-onset infection, the most prevalent kind of newborn GBS disease, and late-onset infection are the two types of GBS infections in neonates. By preventing GBS transmission from mother to infant, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) can minimize the risk of GBS neonatal illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended two methods for detecting pregnant women, which were first published in 1996 and subsequently revised in 2002 and 2010: either a risk-based method of detecting clinical risk factors for newborn illness and administering IAP to all cases demonstrating any of these risk factors, or a universal screening for GBS by obtaining rectovaginal cultures between 35 and 37 weeks of pregnancy[5,6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
