Improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women: A prospective observational study

Aims and Objectives: Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization during pregnancy can lead to invasive infections in neonates including meningitis or sepsis. The major risk factor for neonatal disease is the rectovaginal colonization of GBS during pregnancy and delivery. The objectives of this study we...

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Main Authors: Priyank Rajan, Mukesh Sanklecha, Saloni Gandhi, Kaushal Soni, Mayur Wanjari, Gaurav Mittal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_538_24
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author Priyank Rajan
Mukesh Sanklecha
Saloni Gandhi
Kaushal Soni
Mayur Wanjari
Gaurav Mittal
author_facet Priyank Rajan
Mukesh Sanklecha
Saloni Gandhi
Kaushal Soni
Mayur Wanjari
Gaurav Mittal
author_sort Priyank Rajan
collection DOAJ
description Aims and Objectives: Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization during pregnancy can lead to invasive infections in neonates including meningitis or sepsis. The major risk factor for neonatal disease is the rectovaginal colonization of GBS during pregnancy and delivery. The objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to screen antenatal patients at 35–37 weeks of gestation for GBS colonization, 2) to determine the prevalence of GBS among pregnant women, 3) to formulate an antibiotic policy with respect to antepartum antibiotic prophylaxis and empiric choice of antibiotics for early onset neonatal sepsis, and 4) to ascertain the maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with positive GBS colonization. Material and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 50 obstetric patients at 35–37 weeks of gestation attending the outpatient and inpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital. High vaginal and rectal swabs were collected and immediately transported to the microbiology lab and were sent for culture and sensitivity testing using the standard culture methods. The incidence of positive cultures was noted and was taken up as a reference for statistical calculations. Results: Out of the 50 vaginal samples, one sample showed GBS positivity having a prevalence of 2%. Rectal swabs did not grow GBS for all samples. Neither the pregnant woman nor the newborn showed any symptoms or signs due to GBS. GBS grown in vaginal culture was highly sensitive to benzyl penicillin and other penicillins, cephalosporins, clindamycin, daptomycin, vancomycin, meropenem, and linezolid. Conclusion: Based on our findings, screening the patients with routine rectovaginal swabs may not be necessary in our population. Also, empiric treatment with antibiotics for GBS in symptomatic mothers cannot be justified, and hence, GBS should be considered as an insignificant pathogen.
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spelling doaj-art-a79ccc73ff4c47cf9c75bffbd26b568e2025-02-11T13:58:27ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632278-71352025-01-0114141942410.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_538_24Improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women: A prospective observational studyPriyank RajanMukesh SanklechaSaloni GandhiKaushal SoniMayur WanjariGaurav MittalAims and Objectives: Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization during pregnancy can lead to invasive infections in neonates including meningitis or sepsis. The major risk factor for neonatal disease is the rectovaginal colonization of GBS during pregnancy and delivery. The objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to screen antenatal patients at 35–37 weeks of gestation for GBS colonization, 2) to determine the prevalence of GBS among pregnant women, 3) to formulate an antibiotic policy with respect to antepartum antibiotic prophylaxis and empiric choice of antibiotics for early onset neonatal sepsis, and 4) to ascertain the maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with positive GBS colonization. Material and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 50 obstetric patients at 35–37 weeks of gestation attending the outpatient and inpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital. High vaginal and rectal swabs were collected and immediately transported to the microbiology lab and were sent for culture and sensitivity testing using the standard culture methods. The incidence of positive cultures was noted and was taken up as a reference for statistical calculations. Results: Out of the 50 vaginal samples, one sample showed GBS positivity having a prevalence of 2%. Rectal swabs did not grow GBS for all samples. Neither the pregnant woman nor the newborn showed any symptoms or signs due to GBS. GBS grown in vaginal culture was highly sensitive to benzyl penicillin and other penicillins, cephalosporins, clindamycin, daptomycin, vancomycin, meropenem, and linezolid. Conclusion: Based on our findings, screening the patients with routine rectovaginal swabs may not be necessary in our population. Also, empiric treatment with antibiotics for GBS in symptomatic mothers cannot be justified, and hence, GBS should be considered as an insignificant pathogen.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_538_24antibioticcolonizationgbsneonaterectovaginal
spellingShingle Priyank Rajan
Mukesh Sanklecha
Saloni Gandhi
Kaushal Soni
Mayur Wanjari
Gaurav Mittal
Improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women: A prospective observational study
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
antibiotic
colonization
gbs
neonate
rectovaginal
title Improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women: A prospective observational study
title_full Improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women: A prospective observational study
title_fullStr Improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women: A prospective observational study
title_full_unstemmed Improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women: A prospective observational study
title_short Improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group B streptococcus colonization among pregnant women: A prospective observational study
title_sort improving neonatal outcome by studying the incidence of maternal group b streptococcus colonization among pregnant women a prospective observational study
topic antibiotic
colonization
gbs
neonate
rectovaginal
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_538_24
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