[Epidemiology of maternal-fetal group B streptococcal infections].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of maternal-fetal infection due to group B streptococcus.


METHODS
We identified all cases of maternal-fetal group B streptococcus infection between January 2003 and December 2007, from neonatal unit reports at the Charles Nicolle Hospital.


RESULTS
Ninety cases were identified out of 17,922 live births, incidence 5 ‰ of which 2.3 ‰ of bacteremia. Twenty percent of all newborns were premature and 22.2% had a low birth weight. Peripartum maternal fever was recorded in 52.2% of cases and membrane rupture more than 12 hours before delivery occurred in 74.4%. Among the newborns, 45.6% were symptomatic at birth. Forty percent of group B streptococci were resistant to erythromycin and 3.3% with intermediate resistance to ampicillin. The global neonatal mortality after group B streptococcus infection was 3.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal-fetal infection due to group B streptococcus is still frequent and continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality.
Service de néonatologie, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie. emira@ben-hamida.com
E
E
Ben Hamida Nouaili
K
K
Abidi
S
S
Chaouachi
Z
Z
Marrakchi
D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D055815:Young Adult