The Incidence of Group B Streptococcus in the Vaginal Tracts of Pregnant Women in Central Alabama

J Kyle Taylor; Rosine W Hall; Allen R Dupre

doi:10.29074/ascls.15.1.16

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J Kyle Taylor, MS CLS (NCA)⇑
1. is an Instructor of Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science at Auburn University, Montgomery AL
Rosine W Hall, PhD
1. is an Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Auburn University, Montgomery AL
Allen R Dupre, MD
1. is a physician at OB-GYN Associates, Montgomery AL

Address for correspondence: J Kyle Taylor, Dept of Biology/Medical Technology, Auburn University Montgomery, Room 204A Moore Hall, 7461 East Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117. (334) 244-3302, (334) 244-3146 (fax). tayljam{at}strudel.aum.edu

Extract

Group B streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) or GBS is the most common cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the United States. One important risk factor for infants who acquire GBS is maternal colonization. Colonization rates have been estimated in various studies to be between 15% and 35% of pregnant women. Colonization rates for black women have also been shown to be higher than for non-blacks. Local data were collected and compared to those of other studies. Of the pregnant women in this study overall, 22.76% tested positive for GBS. Black women were colonized by GBS (35.71%) significantly more often than non-black women (19.84%; G = 8.9729, p <0.00274). Generalized linear models were used to examine age and race. Both maternal age and the interaction of maternal race and age as predictors of infection were ruled out, leaving only race as a significant predictor of colonization.

Group B streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) or GBS is the most common cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the United States.^1,2 Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive coccoid bacterium (pairs or chains), which is β-hemolytic, catalase-negative, pyrrolidonyl aminopeptidase (PYR)-negative, bile solubility-negative, CAMP test-positive, bile esculin-negative, salt tolerance-sensitive, and bacitracin-resistant.³ Before preventive methods were widely used, approximately 8,000 babies annually acquired GBS disease from their mothers intrapartum, with a 5% mortality rate. Early onset neonatal infection may result in death, disability such as hearing or vision loss, learning disabilities, or recurrent infection.^1,2 An increasing focus on the detection and prevention of GBS disease spread from mother to…

ABBREVIATIONS: GBS = Group B streptococcus.