title: Group B Streptococcus carriers among HIV-1 infected pregnant women: prevalence and risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to determine the frequency and risk factors of anogenital colonization by Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) in pregnant women infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted on 207 pregnant women divided into two groups: HIV group (n=101) and a control group consisting of HIV-uninfected pregnant women (n=106) to assess regional colonization by GBS. Anal and vaginal swabs were collected and cultured in Todd-Hewitt broth, followed by a confirmatory test. For a control group with an anticipated proportion based on literature research of 10-30% and alpha=0.05, a sample size of 100 would have a power of 80% to detect a difference of 15% or greater with a study group. The mothers were studied in terms of frequency of anogenital colonization by GBS, maternal epidemiological data, and TCD4 lymphocyte counts. The results were analyzed using the chi(2)-test, Fisher's exact test and the Student's t-test, with the level of significance set at p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty (19.8%) HIV-1-infected pregnant women were found to be colonized by GBS at between 35 and 37 weeks' gestation. In the control group, the prevalence of GBS was 14.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant increase in GBS colonization was observed in HIV-1-infected pregnant women. Maternal colonization of GBS in HIV-infected pregnant women was not found to be associated with their immunological status. Sexual contact does not seem to be the principal way of transmitting GBS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. pbeitune@ig.com.br
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: El Beitune
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Cláudia Maria Leite
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: Silvana Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: Ana Carolina J
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: De Sá Rosa E Silva
authors.forename: Antonio Alberto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nogueira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification*