Group B streptococci carriage in pregnant women: acquisition by newborn infants and obstetrics complications

Group B streptococcal [GBS] carriage rate and its acquisition by newborns was investigated by culturing specimens from mother genital tract and from different sites of newborns in Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi. Incidence of preterm rupture of membranes [PROM], preterm delivery and history of vaginal discharge was observed in the GBS colonized and uncoIonized population. The condition of placenta and liquor amni and the mean time between ruptures of membranes and delivery was also observed amongst colonized and uncolonized mothers. Cultures were done on starch serum agar described by Islam [1977] anaerobically and golden yellow colonies were subjected to serological diagnosis. A carriage rate of 9.3% amongst mothers and an acquisition rate of 71.4% by infants of colonized and 1.4% by infants of uncolonized mothers was found. PROM and preterm delivery was observed in 14.2% of the colonized mothers while 9.5% and 5.1% of the uncolonized mothers had PROM and preterm delivery respectively. From the data obtained it appears that GBS infection may not be uncommon in Pakistan and the association of GBS with gynaecological, obstetric and perinatal complication is significant