Prevalence and characterization of group B streptococcus among pregnant women at a tertiary hospital in South Africa

Objectives.This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with group B streptococcal anogenital colonization among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, a tertiary hospital.Methods.Cross-sectional study where 309 pregnant women ≥ thirty-five weeks of gestation attending antenatal clinic were consecutively recruited between January and March 2015. Anovaginal swabs were collected and tested qualitatively using rapid visual immunoassay GBS test kits for presence of GBS antigens. Data was analyzed using STATA version 12. In univariate analysis, GBS colonized mothers were presented as percentages and numbers, and in multivariate analysis logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the associations of exposure variable and GBS colonization; a value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results.Mothers’ median age was 25 years, 14.6% mothers being obese. GBS prevalence was 28.8%, 95% CI: 23.7–33.9. Obesity was the only significant factor associated with anogenital GBS colonization with odds ratio of 3.78, 95% CI: 1.78–8.35, apvalue of 0.001. Maternal ages, educational level, residence, and gravidity were not associated with GBS anogenital colonization.Conclusion.Group B streptococcal anogenital colonization among pregnant women attending antenatal care at tertiary hospital, in Southwestern Uganda, is high.

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Group B streptococcus colonisation in pregnant women at Dr. George Mukhari Hospital, South Africa

Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1080/23120053.2016.1156308 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 74-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

MC Monyama ◽

JY Bolukaoto ◽

MO Chukwu ◽

MRB Maloba ◽

SR Moyo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Group B Streptococcus ◽

Group B

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Evaluation of Trans-Vag Broth, Colistin-Nalidixic Agar, and CHROMagar StrepB for Detection of Group B Streptococcus in Vaginal and Rectal Swabs from Pregnant Women in South Africa

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.00251-13 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 51 (8) ◽

pp. 2515-2519 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

G. Kwatra ◽

S. A. Madhi ◽

C. L. Cutland ◽

E. J. Buchmann ◽

P. V. Adrian

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Group B Streptococcus ◽

Rectal Swabs ◽

Group B

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Biomarkers for a histological chorioamnionitis diagnosis in pregnant women with or without group B streptococcus infection: a case-control study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-03731-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jie Ren ◽

Zhe Qiang ◽

Yuan-yuan Li ◽

Jun-na Zhang

Keyword(s):

Cord Blood ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Group B Streptococcus ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Intercellular Adhesion Molecule ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Group B ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Chorioamnionitis may cause serious perinatal and neonatal adverse outcomes, and group B streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most common bacteria isolated from human chorioamnionitis. The present study analyzed the impact of GBS infection and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) on pregnancy outcomes and the diagnostic value of various biomarkers. Methods Pregnant women were grouped according to GBS infection and HCA detection. Perinatal and neonatal adverse outcomes were recorded with a follow-up period of 6 weeks. The white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil ratio, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level from peripheral blood and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels from cord blood were assessed. Results A total of 371 pregnant women were included. Pregnant women with GBS infection or HCA had a higher risk of pathological jaundice and premature rupture of membranes and higher levels of sICAM-1, IL-8, and TNF-α in umbilical cord blood. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis revealed that sICMA-1, IL-8, TNF-α, WBC, and CRP were significantly related to an increased HCA risk. For all included pregnant women, TNF-α had the largest receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area (area: 0.841; 95% CI: 0.778–0.904) of the biomarkers analyzed. TNF-α still had the largest area under the ROC curve (area: 0.898; 95% CI: 0.814–0.982) for non-GBS-infected pregnant women, who also exhibited a higher neutrophil ratio (area: 0.815; 95% CI: 0.645–0.985) and WBC (area: 0.849; 95% CI: 0.72–0.978), but all biomarkers had lower value in the diagnosis of HCA in GBS-infected pregnant women. Conclusion GBS infection and HCA correlated with several perinatal and neonatal adverse outcomes. TNF-α in cord blood and WBCs in peripheral blood had diagnostic value for HCA in non-GBS-infected pregnant women but not GBS-infected pregnant women.

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Poor Adherence to the Screening-Based Strategy of Group B Streptococcus Despite Colonization of Pregnant Women in Greece

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10040418 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 418

Author(s):

Maria Maroudia Berikopoulou ◽

Aikaterini Pana ◽

Theodota Liakopoulou-Tsitsipi ◽

Nikos F. Vlahos ◽

Vasiliki Papaevangelou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Late Onset ◽

Group B Streptococcus ◽

Culture Collection ◽

Carrier Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Screening Guidelines ◽

Group B

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of serious neonatal infections. Maternal GBS colonization is associated with early- and late-onset neonatal disease (EOD/LOD). In Greece, a screening-based strategy is recommended, in which concurrent vaginal-rectal cultures should be obtained between 36 0/7 and 37 6/7 weeks’ gestation. We sought to examine the level of adherence to the GBS screening guidelines and estimate the prevalence of GBS colonization among pregnant women. Although in Greece the screening-based strategy is followed, we also examined known EOD risk factors and linked them to GBS colonization. A cross-sectional study of 604 women postpartum in three hospitals and maternity clinics was conducted. Following written informed consent, data were collected via a short self-completed questionnaire and review of patients’ records. In 34.6% of the enrolled pregnant women, no culture had been taken. Of the remaining, 12.8% had proper vaginal-rectal sample collections. The overall maternal colonization rate was 9.6%. At least one risk factor for EOD was identified in 12.6% of participants. The presence of risk factors was associated with positive cultures (p = 0.014). The rate of culture collection did not differ between women with or without an EOD risk factor. Adherence to a universal screening of pregnant women with vaginal-rectal cultures was poor. Despite probable underestimation of GBS carrier status, almost 1 in 10 participants were GBS positive during pregnancy. Screening of women with risk factors for EOD should, at least, be prioritized to achieve prevention and prompt intervention of EOD.

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