Background
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a significant cause of neonatal infection, but the maternal risk factors for GBS colonization remain poorly defined. We hypothesized that there may be an association between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and GBS colonization and/or the presence of inducible clindamycin resistance (iCLI-R) in GBS isolates from GBS-colonized pregnant women.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was performed at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – Shreveport including demographic and clinical data from 1513 pregnant women who were screened for GBS between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.
Results
Among 526 (34.8%) women who screened positive for GBS, 124 (23.6%) carried GBS strains with iCLI-R (GBS-iCLI-R). While antibiotic exposure, race, sexually-transmitted infection (STI) in pregnancy, GBS colonization in prior pregnancy and BMI were identified as risk factors for GBS colonization in univariate analyses, the only independent risk factors for GBS colonization were African–American race (AOR = 2.142; 95% CI = 2.092–3.861) and STI during pregnancy (AOR = 1.309; 95% CI = 1.035–1.653). Independent risk factors for GBS-iCLI-R among women colonized with GBS were non-African–American race (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.20–3.78) and younger age (AOR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.91–0.98). Among GBS-colonized women with an STI in the current pregnancy, the only independent risk factor for iCLI-R was Chlamydia trachomatis infection (AOR = 4.31; 95% CI = 1.78–10.41).
Conclusions
This study identified novel associations for GBS colonization and colonization with GBS-iCLI-R. Prospective studies will improve our understanding of the epidemiology of GBS colonization during pregnancy and the role of antibiotic exposure in alterations of the maternal microbiome.
Maternal tachyarrhythmia is a common complication during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that enhance pre-existing arrhythmias or induce new arrhythmias in the presence of congenital heart defects in pregnant females. Presence of tachyarrhythmia during pregnancy poses risk to the mother and fetus, calling for proper treatment with medications. Use of antiarrhythmic drugs in cases of maternal tachyarrhythmia must give due consideration of potential teratogenic side effects. Utilization of antiarrhythmic drugs during pregnancy has been well studied; some result in minimal fetal harm or none at all. New techniques, such as cardiac ablation, have also been implemented with minimal or no radiation exposure to the fetus or mother. Pregnant women with tachyarrhythmia have been successfully treated with little to no impact on the developing fetus as result of increasing experience with antiarrhythmic drugs and progress of new procedural techniques.
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