Burden of Invasive Group B Streptococcus Infection Among Omani Infants Less Than 90 Days Old: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aims to investigate the incidence of invasive GBS disease among infants less than 90 days old in Oman and to describe their risk factors, clinical presentations and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of less than 90-day-old Omani infants with culture-positive GBS from sterile samples. This study was conducted in 3 tertiary hospitals in Oman from 2009 to 2018. RESULTS: Over 10 years, we identified 92 cases of culture-confirmed invasive GBS infection from 178,285 live births in the 3 hospitals, giving an overall incidence of 0.53 per 1000 live births [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4-0.7)]. Of those, 59 (64.1%) had early-onset neonatal GBS disease and 33 (35.9%) had late-onset neonatal GBS disease. The incidence of invasive GBS disease was significantly higher in the last 5 years from 2014 to 2018 (0.69 per 1000 live births, 95% CI: 0.5-0.9) compared to the previous years from 2009 to 2013 (0.36 per 1000 live births, 95% CI: 0.2‒0.5), (P = 0.004). Infants with late-onset neonatal GBS disease had a higher risk of meningitis compared to infants with early-onset neonatal GBS disease (30.3% vs. 10.2%, P = 0.021). The mortality rate was 13.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of invasive GBS disease in Oman is similar to what was reported worldwide, however, the burden of the disease in terms of mortality is high. In addition, a significant increase in the annual incidence of invasive GBS disease in Omani infants was found over the study period.

Maternal, Perinatal, and Neonatal Outcomes of COVID-19 Severity in Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Study from Oman.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 severity on maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2. We also aimed to assess the effect of medical comorbidities on the severity of COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on women who became infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and delivered at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman, from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2021. Results: A total of 118 pregnant women with COVID-19 and their 118 newborns were included in the study. Mean maternal age was 32.0 years, with 60.2% of women infected in the third trimester. The majority of the participants had mild symptoms. Eleven (9.3%) women had moderate infection needing inpatient care. Six (5.1%) with severe infection were admitted to intensive care unit. The chronic diseases among the participants were hypothyroidism, obesity, sickle cell disease, epilepsy, and diabetes. The mean gestational age at delivery was 37.0 weeks with 20.9% of women delivering by cesarean section out of whom 37.5% had moderate-to-severe COVID-19. The most common complications associated with COVID-19 severity were preterm labor (p =0.002), preeclampsia (p =0.002), and intrauterine fetal death (p =0.089). Of the total 118 newborns, 111 were singletons and six were twins. One fetus died and three singletons were lost to miscarriage. Placental histopathology conducted in 64 patients had no COVID-specific findings in most cases. Conclusions: Most pregnant women with COVID-19 infections had mild symptoms. The majority of women with moderate-to-severe infection were admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia. There was no direct effect of COVID-19 severity in neonatal outcomes or placental histopathology changes.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Women: A single tertiary centre experience.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess pregnancy outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Oman. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 149 pregnancies in 98 women with SLE was conducted over 10 years to evaluate the impact of clinical and laboratory parameters in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: Mean maternal age was 30.6 ± 5 years ranging from 20-44 years, and the mean disease duration was 10 ± 5 years, ranging from 2-27 years. The most common maternal manifestations were joint pain in 36 (24.2%), lupus nephritis (LN) in 18 (12.08%), preeclampsia in 11 (7.4%), eclampsia in three (2%) and lupus flare in one pregnancy. The live birth rate was 139 (93.3%) with a mean gestational age of 36 ± 2 weeks ranging from 26-40 weeks. In total, 55 (39.6%) were preterm deliveries, six (4%) pregnancies ended in miscarriage, and four (2.7%) resulted in intrauterine fetal death. Intrauterine growth restriction was observed in 49 babies (35%). A significant association was found between hypertension (HTN) and miscarriage (P = 0.024) and preterm birth (P = 0.019). In addition, HTN was positively associated with preeclampsia (P = 0.004) and LN (P = 0.048). Antiphospholipid syndrome impacted preterm birth (P = 0.013) and postpartem haemorrhage (PPH) (P = 0.027) and was found to be a significant predictor for women developing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (P <0.001 for both). CONCLUSION: Despite potential complications, most pregnancies complicated by SLE in Oman result in good outcomes. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, however, may still occur in women with SLE. In women with SLE, pregnancy planning, careful antenatal monitoring and efficient SLE treatment need to be undertaken for successful pregnancy outcomes.

Early Teenage Pregnancy: Is it Safe?

AIM: To compare obstetric and perinatal outcomes of early and late teenage pregnancies of Omani nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies cared for and delivered at a tertiary teaching hospital. METHOD: In this retrospective study, we reviewed obstetric and perinatal outcomes of early teenage pregnancies (14-16 years), (n = 20) delivered at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2013 and compared their outcomes with outcomes of late teenage pregnancies (17-19 years), (n = 287) delivered at the same hospital during same period. RESULTS: When compared with late teenage pregnant women, early teenagers were found to have no significant differences in prevalence of very preterm delivery <32 weeks (P = 0.62), preterm rupture of membranes (P = > 0.99), and anemia (P = 0.34). When compared to late teenagers, early teenagers had similar cesarean sections rates (P = >0.99), instrumental delivery rates (P = 0.56) and spontaneous vaginal delivery rates (P > 0.99). Both groups had similar birth weights (P = 0.87), low birth weights, (P = 0.55), and very low birth weights babies (P = 0.56 %). Perinatal mortality rate was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: We may conclude that early teenage pregnant Omani women are not at increased risk of obstetric and perinatal complication compared to older teenagers.

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of teenage pregnant women attending a tertiary teaching hospital in oman.

OBJECTIVE: To study the obstetrical and perinatal outcomes of teenage Omani girls with singleton pregnancies at a tertiary teaching hospital. METHODS: This is a retrospective case control study. We reviewed obstetric and perinatal outcomes of teenage nulliparous pregnant Omani girls with singleton pregnancies aged 14 to 19 years, delivered at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2013. We compared their outcomes with outcomes of pregnant nulliparous Omani women with singleton pregnancies aged 20 to 25 years old delivered at the same hospital during the same period. RESULTS: When compared with pregnant women (n=307), teenage pregnant girls (n=307) were found to have higher proportion of preterm delivery <32 weeks (7% vs. 3%, p=0.040), preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes (PPROM) (19% vs. 11%, p=0.005) and anemia (58% vs. 44%, p=0.005). Cesarean section rate was higher in women than teenager girls (20% vs. 10%, p=0.001). Teenager girls had lighter babies (mean weight ± standard deviation 2,750±690 vs. 2,890±480, p=0.020), incidence of very low birth weight babies (<1,500g) was higher in teenagers (3.9% vs. 0.3%, p=0.003), but perinatal mortality rate was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Teenage pregnant Omani women are at increased risk of preterm delivery before 32 weeks gestation, PPROM, anemia, and delivering very low birth weight babies.

Fetal macrosomia. Risk factor and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors predisposing to fetal macrosomia and assess the maternal and perinatal outcome in these patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of all macrosomic deliveries in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultanate of Oman, during a 3-year period from January 2001 -- December 2003. The maternal and neonatal records of infants with birth weight of > or =4000 g (n=275) were reviewed. Outcome variables included demographic profile, antenatal risk factors, mode of delivery and maternal and perinatal complications. RESULTS: A total of 7367 deliveries occurred during the study period. The rate of macrosomic deliveries was 3.75% and the rate of deliveries > or =4500 g was 0.48%. The mean birth weight of the study group was 4230 +/- 220 g. Obesity, diabetes, prolonged gestation and postpartum hemorrhage were significantly higher in the study group. The cesarean section rate was 25.8% for the study group compared to the general incidence of 13.1% during the study period (p<0.0001). The incidence of shoulder dystocia was 7.6% compared to the general incidence of 0.48% during the study period (p<0.0001). There were 7 cases of Erb's palsy, all except one recovered without sequelae by 3 months of age. CONCLUSION: Gestational diabetes, maternal obesity, increasing age and parity were the main risk factors for fetal macrosomia. The incidence of shoulder dystocia, birth injuries and neonatal morbidity increased in this group.