title: Emergence of group B streptococci in obstetric and perinatal infections.
abstract: A retrospective study of obstetric and perinatal illness due to group B streptococci during 1972-4 based on bacteriological referrals from Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Special Nursery disclosed (1) a wide spectrum of maternal morbidity, particularly associated with amniotomy and a prolonged rupture-delivery interval, and (2) the emergence of the group B streptococcus as a major cause of serious neonatal infection in infants of low birth weight, often in the absence of maternal pyrexia. The group B isolates appeared to show a previously undocumented increased resistance to the aminoglycosides gentamicin and kanamycin. A prospective study of 369 random deliveries in Aberdeen Maternity Hospital showed a group B vaginal carriage rate of 49/1000; a neonatal colonization rate of 19/1000; maternal and neonatal morbidity rates of 16 and 2-7/1000, respectively; and an overall neonatal mortality of 1/1000 live births.
mesh_terms: D000031:Abortion, Septic / Q000209:etiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D007612:Kanamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007751:Labor, Induced; D008297:Male; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D010406:Penicillins; D007612:Kanamycin