ABSTRACT
Although, group B streptococcus [GBS] is usually harmless in healthy pregnant women, it can cause a relatively rare but very serious infection in the newborns. Up to 30% of pregnant females carry GBS in the vagina or rectal area, where they may pass it to their babies during labor. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of anogenital colonization by group B streptococci [GBS] and its antibiotic susceptibility in pregnant women attending for routine antenatal care at Kasr Al-Aini Hospital. Anorectal and vaginal swabs were obtained from 150 pregnant women [mean age 28 years] at 35-41 weeks of gestation. The specimens were cultured in standard selective broth medium supplemented with gentamicin and nalidixic acid and subsequently sub-cultured on sheep blood agar. In cases were positive cultures were obtained, antibiotic susceptibility tests were carried out and soon after delivery neonatal swabs were obtained to identify vertical transmission. The secondary outcomes that were evaluated were maternal and neonatal complications in GBS positively colonized women. The overall maternal carriage rate of group B streptococci was 26%. GBS colonization rates were significantly higher among multigravid women [P 0.031], with no effect of maternal age on the rate of colonization. All the isolates were susceptible to penicillin and approximately 20% of the isolates showed resistance to Erythromycin and Clindamycin. In view of the high maternal carriage rate, establishing the prevalence of neonatal GBS disease and implementing a protocol aimed at GBS disease detection and prevention is promptly required. In the interim patients with known risk factors for neonatal GBS disease, requires prophylactic intra-partum chemoprophylaxis. Penicillin remains the first line therapy to prevent early-onset neonatal GBS disease and in cases of penicillin allergy susceptibility testing of colonizing strains should be performed