Prevalence of colonisation with group B Streptococci in pregnant women of a multi-ethnic population in The Netherlands

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of GBS and to identify GBS colonisation risk factors in a multicultural population of pregnant women in The Netherlands. We calculated predictive values of cultures in pregnancy for intrapartum GBS carriage. Study design: From a total of 1702 women visiting several antenatal outpatient departments, rectovaginal swabs were collected at 35-37 weeks' gestation. In 761 women swabs were repeated at time of delivery. Carriage of GBS late in third trimester and at time of delivery was analysed in relation to age, parity, ethnicity and socio-economic status. Results: Twenty-one percent was GBS carrier late in pregnancy. Compared to Europeans, African women were at a higher risk (29%, RR 1.4, CI 1.1-1.7) and Asian women were at lower risk (13%, RR 0.6, CI 0.4-0.8) for GBS carriage. No differences in colonisation were found between women with respect to age, parity or socio-economic background. Positive predictive value of GBS carriage at 35-37 weeks' gestation for carriage at time of parturition was 79% and negative predictive value was 93%. Conclusions: It was not possible to identify a group of pregnant women at high risk for GBS colonisation. Predictive values of antenatal genital group B streptococci cultures at 35-37 weeks' gestation for intrapartum GBS carriage are lower than previously reported. # 2005 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

The Prevalence of vaginal Carrier of Group B Streptococcal (GBS) among Pregnant Women Attending Maternity at Mustafa-Khomeini Hospital, Ilam

“…There was significant relationship between colonization and preterm labor; this inconsistency may be due to the limited number of mothers who participated in the present study and had a history of preterm labor. However, there was no significant relationship between rate of colonization (21%) and age of the mother and preterm labor in Valkenburg-van et al (2006) in Netherlands; these results are consistent with the findings of the present study (Valkenburg-van et al, 2009).…”

“…Colonization and subsequent neonatal infection might occur in the womb, at birth, or in the first month of life. The incidence of this infection in first 7 days is referred to as 'premature' and it is called 'delayed' if it happens from the first week up to the first three months after the birth (Valkenburg -van et al, 2006). Additionally, GBS colonization, especially in vagina and rectum, is a common phenomenon among pregnant women and 20-30% of the collected samples from pregnant women with pregnancy age of 35 weeks turn out to be GBS positive (Behrman et al, 2004).…”

Risk Factors Associated with Group B Streptococcus Colonization and Their Effect on Pregnancy Outcome

“…In the current study, no significant difference was found with regards to parity between GBS colonized and non-colonized. Several studies [27][28][29] found no significant differences in colonization rates by age or parity, while others report associations with young age and lower parity [10,30,31].…”

Direct Identification of Streptococcus agalactiae in Vaginal Colonization in Pregnant Women Using Polymerase Chain Reaction

“…The different prevalence rates between several studies may be associated with gestational age at culturing, differences in sampling sites (i.e. only vaginal vs. rectovaginal), using different culture techniques, using PCR with different targets, an alteration of prevalence with time, or real differences of prevalence in various populations or ethnic groups (26). In addition, differences in the elapsed time after sampling for transporting clinical specimens to be processed, using different nucleic acid extraction method, as well as using PCR with different targeting can be some reasons for differences related to reported specificity and sensitivity of PCR in several studies.…”