Knowledge and practices of pregnant women about folic acid in pregnancy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

This study assessed the knowledge and practices about folic acid in pregnancy among pregnant women attending 2 main maternal and child health centres in Abu Dhabi. The majority of the 277 interviewed mothers [79.1%] had heard of folic acid and 46.6% had accurate knowledge about the role of folate in preventing neural tube defects. There were good practices regarding folate supplementation in the current pregnancy; most of the interviewed mothers took it daily and in the recommended dose. However, only a minority took it prior to pregnancy. Education, irrespective of age or parity, was the major factor determining better knowledge of folic acid in pregnancy

Vaginal carriage and antibiotic susceptibility profile of group B Streptococcus during late pregnancy in Ismailia, Egypt

Group B Streptococcus [GBS] infection has long been recognized as a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in newborn infants. The purpose of this study was to determine the colonization rate with GBS and the antibiotic susceptibility profile in pregnant women attending Gynecological clinics in Egypt. One-hundred and fifty vaginal swabs were collected from pregnant women at 35-40 weeks of gestation. In comparison to culture, direct latex agglutination testing revealed 100% sensitivity and 93.75% specificity. Thirty-eight specimens [25.3%] were found to be positive for GBS. Each isolate was tested for susceptibility to penicillin G, ampicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, clindamycin and vancomycin. Erythromycin-resistant isolates were further classified by double-disk method. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin G, ampicillin and vancomycin. Resistance to cefotaxime was detected in three isolates [7.89%]. Five isolates [13.15%] were resistant to erythromycin and nine isolates [23.68%] were resistant to clindamycin. Four [80%] isolates had constitutive macrolide-lincosamide-StreptograminB resistance [cMLSB[B]] resistance and one [20%] isolate had inducible resistance [Imls[B]] resistance. GBS colonization was found to be high in our region. Latex agglutination testing and Islam medium are reliable methods to detect GBS in late pregnancy; however, latex agglutination test is rapid and simpler. Penicillin G remains the first choice antibiotic for treatment of GBS infections

Maternal carriage of group B streptococcus during late pregnancy in Ismailia

Group B Streptococcus [GBS] infection has long been recognized as a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in newborn infants. Maternal colonization with GBS is the most predominant risk factor for the development of invasive neonatal GBS disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the current colonization rate with GBS and the association of age and parity with the colonization status in our region. One-hundred and fifty pregnant women at 35-40 weeks of gestation attending the Gynecological clinics at Ismailia from September 2007 to April 2008 were enrolled in this study. One vaginal swab was collected from each patient with an informed consent, inoculated in selective enrichment broth medium, subcultured and identified by conventional procedures. A total of 38 specimens [25.3%] were found to be positive for GBS. Colonization rates were significantly higher in pregnant women >/= 30 years and after the third pregnancy. The colonization rate was found to be high in our region and thereby constitutes a group of women whose infants are at great risk of [3135 invasive infections. Increasing age and parity might enhance the risk of colonization with GBS