Abstract
BackgroundGroup B streptococcus (GBS) has been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes. GBS recto-vaginal colonization rates significantly vary among different communities and geographic locations. Limited data is available on the prevalence and effects of GBS recto-vaginal colonization among pregnant mothers in developing countries like Ethiopia.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of GBS recto-vaginal colonization among near term pregnant mothers and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates.MethodsA cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on pregnant mothers at gestational age of 35–37 weeks attending Ante Natal Clinics at Ghandi Memorial (GMH) and Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Addis Ababa. Samples from lower genital tract and rectum were collected and cultured for GBS on CHROM agar Strep B.ResultsTwenty two of the 300 pregnant mothers (7.2%) studied were found to have positive GBS recto-vaginal culture. Twelve isolates (55%) were sensitive to penicillin while 20 (91%) were sensitive to ampicilline. All isolates except one were sensitive to Erythromycin.ConclusionThe study showed recto-vaginal GBS colonization among near term pregnant mothers is reasonably high in our community calling for the need to screen mothers near term and provide appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent potential adverse maternal and neonatal outcome.
Highlights
Pregnant women colonized by Group B Streptococcus (GBS) are known to be at an increased risk of adverse obstetric outcomes
Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization rate of 7.3% in term pregnancies seen in this study is higher than 6.6% reported from Italy but lower than many reports in the literature [2,9,12,13,15,16]
The GBS organisms isolated in this study showed higher susceptibility to ampicillin and erythromycin while significant number showed resistance to penicillin
Summary
Pregnant women colonized by Group B Streptococcus (GBS) are known to be at an increased risk of adverse obstetric outcomes. GBS is known to infect the newborn and increase the neonatal morbidity and mortality [1,2,3]. Penicillin, One study in Ethiopia, Gondar College of Medical Sciences in 1987, involving 200 postpartum women, and 80 newborn infants reported GBS recto-vaginal colonization rate of 9% in postpartum women and GBS oro-pharyngeal colonization rate of 5% in the newborn infants [7]. In a study conducted in Peru, Lima, the overall prevalence of recto-vaginal colonization of GBS was reported to be 8%. Group B streptococcus (GBS) has been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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