Prevalence, capsular type distribution, anthropometric and obstetric factors of group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) colonization in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the prevalence, serotype distribution, anthropometry and obstetric factors of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey.


METHODS
Chinhoyi General Hospital.


METHODS
206 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Chinhoyi General Hospital were systematically randomly sampled.


METHODS
All the isolates were serotyped on the basis of capsular polysaccharide (CHO) antigen designated, Ia, Ib, II, III, IV and V.


RESULTS
65 (31.6%) were carriers of GBS. The serotypes found were, type III (41.8%), type V (37.4%), type Ia (11.0%), type IV (3.3%), type Ib (3.3%) type II (1.0%) and 2.0% of the isolates were non-typable. All isolates were sensitive to penicillin and resistant to gentamycin. Colonization was more common in women with parity 0 to 2 (4.6%) and age group 20 to 24 years (43.1%). There was some evidence (p = 0.063) to suggest that GBS was more often isolated from the vagina (12.6%) than from the rectum (6.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a high prevalence of GBS colonization among pregnant women in Chinhoyi. Types III and V were the most common serotypes found.
Moyo
S R
SR
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Medical School, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box A 178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Mudzori
J
J
Tswana
S A
SA
Maeland
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology