[Factors associated with Streptococcus group B colonization in pregnant women in Los Altos, Chiapas].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence and analyze the factors associated with group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women of Los Altos, Chiapas, Mexico.


METHODS
Between February and September 1999, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 910 women who sought delivery care at three public hospitals of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas. Vaginal and perianal samples were taken for GBS detection by bacteriological culture. Identification of groups and serotypes was performed using latex agglutination. The analysis of factors associated with colonization was done using chi-squared tests and log-linear modeling.


RESULTS
GBS colonization was found in 8.6% (95% CI 6.8-10.5) of study subjects. Women with the greatest likelihood of colonization were those with > or = 5 pregnancies, residents of counties with high levels of poverty, working outside the home, and living in homes in which the head of household worked in agriculture (26.8%, OR = 7.25, 95% CI 1.83-28.67).


CONCLUSIONS
In the study area, it is necessary that actions aiming to prevent and control infections by GBS be directed principally at those groups of women with the highest probability of colonization, in order to diminish the perinatal transmission of GBS.
Ocampo-Torres
M
M
Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México. mocampo@sclc.ecosur.mx
Sánchez-Pérez
H J
HJ
Nazar-Beutelspacher
A
A
Castro-Ramírez
A E
AE
Cordero-Ocampo
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae