Prevalence of colonization by Streptococcus agalactiae among pregnant women in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal vaginal colonization by Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) has an important impact on neonatal health but has not been studied in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The aim of this study was to determine its frequency and influencing factors. Methodology: Vaginal samples (n = 509) for bacteriological analysis were collected from women in Bukavu, eastern DR Congo, during their third trimester of pregnancy, along with information about age, education and socio-economic status, and medical and obstetricgynecological history. Results: The overall GBS colonization rate was 20%. Colonization was significantly associated with low education, history of urinary infection during the pregnancy, history of premature childbirth or abortion, and HIV-positive serology, but was not significantly associated with socio-economic level or parity. Conclusions: The GBS colonization rate is similar to that found elsewhere on the continent. Further studies, with follow-up of neonates of infected mothers and evaluation of prevention/treatment strategies, are needed.

Group B streptococcus colonisation and associated risk factors among pregnant women: A hospital‐based study and implications for primary care

“…Pregnancy history and disease history are potential risk factors for GBS colonisation in pregnant women . A study from pregnant women in Korea revealed that urinary tract infection and vaginitis were significantly associated with GBS colonisation .…”

Carriage and serotype distribution of Streptococcus agalactiae in third trimester pregnancy in southern Ghana

“…In a study from Gabon, the GBS carriage rate was reported to be 19% [13]. Mitima et al [6] found a GBS prevalence of 20% in the Congo. Another study showed a carriage rate of 20.2% in Kenya and 23.1% in South Africa [14].…”

“…Risk factors for GBS carriage do vary, depending on the study. In a study from DR Congo [6], it was found that age and parity were not risk factors, while education, UTI and abortion were found to be risk factors. In another study from Gabon [13] only illiteracy was found to be a significant risk factor.…”

Prevalence and Determinants of Anogenital Colonization by Group B Streptococcus Infection Among HIV Positive and Negative Women in Calabar, Nigeria

“…A similar pattern of the disease was shown in a study in Southern Africa (11). A cross-sectional study of GBS colonization on 509 pregnant women in the DRC found 50% prevalence among HIV positive women which is significantly higher than 23.7% among HIV negative subjects (12). However studies conducted in Uganda and Malawi showed that there was no significant association with HIV status (3,13).…”

“…On the contrary, higher prevalence rates of 14%, 28.8% and 21.61% have been reported in earlier studies in Zaria, Nigeria (21), Uganda (22) and South Africa (23), respectively. A study in the DRC reported overall colonization rate of 20% amongst pregnant women (12). Outside Africa, low colonization rates were reported in places such as Greece (6.6%) (24) and India (9.66%) (25).…”