Awareness of Pregnancy Screening for Group B Streptococcus Infection Among Women of Reproductive Age and Physicians in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

AimsGroup B streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most frequent bacterial pathogens causing invasive infections in neonates. It can be transmitted from colonised mother to neonates around delivery. Screening strategies for GBS during pregnancy include either universal culture-based or risk-based screening. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and current practices of pregnant women towards GBS screening in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Madinah Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia, from May to July 2018. Participants were recruited from postnatal wards. Participants were interviewed using a previously published validated survey that was divided into the following domains: demographic data, knowledge, experience and attitude towards different GBS screening strategies.ResultsA total of 377 out of 450 women (response rate 83.7%) were enrolled. The results showed that the overall mean knowledge score of the pregnant women towards GBS screening was 59.8%. Majority of the women (66.8%) were not aware of the GBS bacterium, while 86.5% of them had never been informed of GBS risk assessment during their pregnancies. The mean knowledge score among women who were aware of GBS (62.8%) was significantly higher than that among women who were not (58.4%) (p=0.015). However, majority of the pregnant women (61.8%) showed preference for universal culture-based GBS screening strategy over risk-based strategy.ConclusionThe study results have concluded that the level of awareness and knowledge about GBS among pregnant women were relatively poor; however, majority of the pregnant women prefer universal culture-based screening.

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A study on prevalence of group B streptococci as a coloniser in women of reproductive age group

International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences ◽

10.5958/j.2319-5886.2.4.146 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 911 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M Sobhana Surya Pradeep ◽

K Vishnuvardhana Rao

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Age ◽

Age Group ◽

Women Of Reproductive Age ◽

Group B Streptococci ◽

Group B ◽

Reproductive Age Group

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Prevalence of Maternal Genital Tract Colonization by Group B Streptococcus From Western Province, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Journal of Clinical Gynecology and Obstetrics ◽

10.14740/jcgo341w ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 258-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Farzana Rizwan Arain ◽

Nisreen Aref Al-Bezrah ◽

Khadija Yosif Ali

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Genital Tract ◽

Group B Streptococcus ◽

Western Province ◽

Group B

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The Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Women of Reproductive Age in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Clinical Medicine Insights Women s Health ◽

10.1177/1179562x18767884 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 1179562X1876788 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Riyadh A Alzaheb

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Hypovitaminosis D ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Women Of Reproductive Age ◽

Associated Risk Factors

Vitamin D deficiency is currently a worldwide epidemic. Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, have high vitamin D deficiency prevalence, most prominently among women, despite their plentiful year-round sunshine. Previous research investigating vitamin D status among Saudi women of reproductive age (15-49 years) is scarce, and no study has used a nationally representative sample, so this review quantified overall hypovitaminosis D prevalence among women in Saudi Arabia and explored the associated risk factors. The Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline databases were searched for prior studies in Saudi Arabia exploring vitamin D status among women of reproductive age, published between January 1, 2000 and May 25, 2017. Data were extracted from the identified studies, and a random effects model meta-analysis established the overall hypovitaminosis D prevalence. The initial search yielded 223 possibly relevant articles; 13 were confirmed as eligible, with samples totaling 2877 women aged between 15 and 49 years. Meta-analysis revealed a mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D, level of 13.1 ng/mL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.6-14.6) and an overall prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, defined as 25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL, of 77.4% (95% CI: 63.2-87.3), mostly due to insufficient sunlight exposure and low dietary vitamin D intake. There is therefore a need for a national strategy to raise vitamin D levels among women in Saudi Arabia by advising them on natural vitamin D sources, and recommending the timing and duration of sun exposure, while also defining a national approach to vitamin D fortification and supplementation.

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Role of PCR in Rapid Detection Group B Streptococcus in Pregnant Females in Al-Quwayiyah General Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Microbiology Research Journal International ◽

10.9734/mrji/2021/v31i330305 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 45-52

Author(s):

E. S. Khater ◽

A. S. Abdel-Motaal

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

General Hospital ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Group B Streptococcus ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Pregnant Females ◽

Group B

Background: Group B streptococcus is one of the most common causes of severe neonatal infections. Aim: To detect the prevalence of group B. Streptococcus and their antimicrobial susceptibility and to assess the role of PCR as a rapid method of its detection. Place and Duration of the Study: A cross sectional and prospective cohort study was carried out from September 2019 to February 2020 in Gynaecology and Obstetrics OPD and inpatient units in Al- Quwayiyah General hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Methodology: Paired rectal/vaginal specimens were collected from 540 pregnant females with gestational age 35 or more, Each swab was inoculated into selective medium, Todd Hewitt, One swab is streaked onto blood agar plates incubated in 5% CO2 for 24h at 36ºC. β-hemolytic colonies growth is identified by Gram’s stain, colony morphology and CAMP test. The confirmation and antimicrobial susceptibility were done by Vitek II machine, The second swab was used for PCR to identify atr gene. Results: Out of 540 pregnant women 87 (16.1%) were colonized with GBS isolates. The positive GBS women aged 25 (22-34) and negative GBS women aged 23 (24-35) with no statistical difference. Patients aged more than 35 years old has the higher rate of positive GBS, 46.2%. No significant association detected between GBS and gestational age at delivery, antenatal visits, BMI and gravidity. The GBS strains isolated from pregnant women was 100% susceptible to linezolid and vancomycin followed by ampicillin (93.1%) and tobramicin (83.9%) then gentamicin (81.6%) and levofloxacin(78.2%) and showed least antibiotic susceptibility to erythromycin (26.4%). The PCR was positive in 145 (26.9%). Using culture as gold method, PCR sensitivity was 100% (95% CI: 91.62-100), while specificity was 83.2% (95% CI: 82.61-91.02). Negative and positive predictive values were 100% and 61% respectively. Kappa between the two methods was 0.71, which indicate major agreement. Conclusion: The GBS prevalence among the pregnant females in Al Quwayiyah General Hospital was 16.1%. Detection of GBS using new PCR technique was found to have high sensitivity and faster results, allowing efficient management of GBS and reduction in newborn morbidity and mortality however the cost is high for some laboratories. Further studies should be assessed to be both low cost and accurate rapid screening.

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