Maternal carriage and neonatal colonisation of group B streptococci in labour are uncommon in Turkey.
Group B streptococcus infection is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. We studied 114 women and their newborns to determine the relationship between maternal carriage and neonatal group B streptococcal colonisation. Rectal, cervical and vaginal swabs were taken at delivery. Within a few minutes of birth, swab specimens were also taken from throat, ear, umbilicus, conjunctiva and skin of the newborns. Group B streptococcus was isolated in 10 (8.7%) of the 114 pregnant women studied and in five (4.3%) of the 114 newborns. Vertical transmission rate was found to be 50%. Neonatal group B streptococcus colonisation has not reached a high level in Turkey, and consequently does not warrant intrapartum screening at the moment.
Ayata
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty of Firat University, Elaziğ, Turkey.
Güvenç
H
H
Felek
S
S
Aygün
A D
AD
Kocabay
K
K
Bektas
S
S
D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology