BackgroundGroup B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of serious neonatal infections. Although great progress has been made in preventing prenatal GBS, its colonization rate in different regions of Iran remains unknown.AimTo determine GBS colonization prevalence and its risk factors among Iranian pregnant women.MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional study was performed on 186 pregnant women, who attended Boo-Ali hospital which is affiliated with Islamic Azad University in Tehran, Iran, from March 2014 to June 2015. The demographic, obstetric and gynecological data were gathered. A recto-vaginal culture was taken from each patient, with a sterile swab, in lithotomy position without using speculum, and vaginal pH was measured. Patients with positive GBS received IV antibiotic therapy during labor (penicillin G 3 gram at first dose then 1.5 gram Q/4h until delivery). Data were analyzed by statistical software SPSS version 21. Statistical tests for differences were performed by Chi-square test. Potential confounding was assessed by logistic regression. Level of significance was set at p<0.05.ResultsTwenty-two (11.8%) patients had positive recto-vaginal colonization. No significant differences between colonized and GBS-negative women with regard to age, obstetrics history and socio-economic factor were noticed. In contrast, smoking, history of previous infection with HPV, presence of vulvitis and a vaginal pH>4.5 were associated with GBS colonization (p≤0.05).ConclusionsWith a relatively low prevalence and few significantly correlated factors, it is hardly possible to define a high risk group of pregnant women for GBS colonization. Therefore, thorough measures should be taken in order to prevent infection complications in mothers and neonates in the Iranian population.

BackgroundAsymptomatic bacteriuria is one of the common problems in pregnancy. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is associated with pyelonephritis, preterm labor and low birth weight infants. The physiological and anatomical changes in pregnancy facilitate urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy. Several tests are available for diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria. The urine culture is a gold standard diagnostic test for asymptomatic bacteriuria but it is expensive and time-consuming. Screening methods may be useful in detecting high-risk pregnant women for asymptomatic bacteriuria.ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to compare urine analysis as a rapid screening test to urine culture in diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria.MethodsA total of 123 pregnant women attending the obstetrics clinic of Boo-Ali hospital in Tehran, Iran from March 2013 to September 2014 were included in the present diagnostic cross-sectional study. One hundred twenty three mid-stream urine samples were inoculated into cultures and were processed by dipstick (nitrite test and leucocyte esterase test) and microscopic pus cell count. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of nitrite test, leucocyte esterase test and microscopic pus cell count were compared with urine culture in diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria by using SPSS version 19.ResultsOf 123 urine samples, significant asymptomatic bacteriuria (≥104 cfu/Ml) was detected in 8 (6.5%) subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of nitrite test were 37% and 100% respectively. The sensitivity of pus cell count alone and leucocyte esterase test alone were 100% but the specificity of them were 64% and 65% respectively. We found high negative predictive value by Pus cell count and the leucocyte esterase test (100%) and low positive predictive value by them (16% and 17% respectively).ConclusionUrine culture is the most useful test for diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria. None of our screening tests had a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, whereas we can only refer the pregnant women with positive leucocyte esterase test and significant pyuria to the urine culture.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents the most common metabolic complication during pregnancy. GDM is associated with maternal and fetal complications. Approximately 7% of all pregnancies are affected by GDM, resulting in more than 200,000 cases worldwide annually, and the prevalence may vary from 1% to 14% among all pregnancies. Accordingly, this study attempted to determine the prevalence and some risk factors of GDM. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out at Boo-Ali hospital in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Four hundred non-diabetics pregnant women with a gestational age of 24-28 weeks who attended the Boo-Ali hospital outpatient department were included in our study. Demographic and anthropometric data including age, gravida, para, gestational age, family history of diabetes, history of GDM, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were collected. Blood samples were collected from the women at 24-28 weeks to diagnose GDM by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We measured the 25-OH-D level in participants at 24-28 weeks. Results: Among the 400 pregnant women, 46 (11.5%) had GDM based on OGTT, and the mean age of GDM women were 30.78± 5.96 years. Among selected variables, BMI ≥25kg/m2, family history, and GDM history were associated with increased risks of GDM (odds ratio=2.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22–5.07;3.52, 95% CI 1.84–6.70; 19.57, and 95% CI 6.16–62.17, respectively). The association was more robust in the positive GDM history of women. Conclusion: High prevalence of GDM highlights more attention of health-care givers in screening pregnant women with risk factors. BMI as a modifiable risk factor for GDM needs more attention, and positive family history and previous GDM history should be considered in the core activities of pregnant women. [GMJ.2020;9:e1642] DOI:10.31661/gmj.v9i0.1642

Background: During pregnancy, asymptomatic bacteriuria is associated with different complications such as pyelonephritis and preterm birth. Pregnancy changes pave the way for the growth and multiplication of pathogenic factors. This study was aimed at exploring the frequency of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women who attended Boo–Ali Hospital, a teaching center of Islamic Azad University in Tehran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 123 pregnant women without urinary symptoms who attended Boo–Ali Hospital from March 2013 to September 2014. Demographic information of the patients including age, gestational age at the time of experiment and parity were recorded. An amount of middle part of urine (20cc) was collected in an appropriate sterile container. Urine samples were examined for WBC, RBC and bacteria. Other parts of the samples were cultivated for urine culture (U/C). Results: Two (1.6%) women had significant bacteriuria (≥105/ml). Pyuria, bacteriuria and hematuria were seen in 49(39.8), 7 (5.6%) and 8 (6.5%) women, respectively. There was a significant association between positive U/C and pyuria (P=0.003). However, positive U/C showed no significance association between bacteriuria and hematuria (P>0.05). Conclusion: Regarding the low frequency of asymptomatic bacteriuria (less than 2%) in the investigated population, the administration of U/C does not seem logical for all pregnant women. Hence, U/C is recommended for those with significant pyuria in their urinalyses. [GMJ.2015;4(4):159-63]