title: Prenatal and neonatal Group B Streptococcus screening and serotyping in Lebanon: incidence and implications.
abstract: The study aimed at determining the prevalence, risk factors, perinatal transmission, and serotypes of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) among pregnant women and their newborns in Beirut, Lebanon. This was a cross-sectional study of all pregnant women admitted from February to September 2006 to three major hospitals. Overall, 137 of 775 (17.7%) mothers and 50 of 682 newborns (7.3%) tested positive for GBS. Maternal colonization was not associated with maternal age, household income, gravidity, intrapartum fever, preterm labor, or premature rupture of membrane. Transmission rate was 40/120 (30%). Serotype 5 (24.1%) was the most common followed by serotype 1a (15.0%), 3 (14.4%), 2 (11.8%) and 1b (7.5%). Pregnant women in Lebanon appear to have a relatively high prevalence of GBS colonization with no identifiable risk factors for its acquisition. These results could provide basis for the institution of a national policy for universal maternal GBS screening to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Muheiddine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seoud
authors.forename: Anwar H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zalloua
authors.forename: Nansi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boghossian
authors.forename: Jihad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ezeddine
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fakhoury
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melki
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Araj
authors.forename: Ghinwa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nacouzi
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanyoura
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yunis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires