title: Group B streptococcus and Escherichia coli colonization in pregnant women and neonates in Lithuania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of maternal and neonatal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli, and examine GBS serotypes and susceptibility to antibiotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in Lithuania between October 2006 and June 2007. Lower vaginal/rectal swabs were obtained from pregnant women (n=998) and ear canal/throat swabs were obtained from their newborns (n=827) for culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, maternal and neonatal GBS colonization rates were 15.3% and 6.4%, respectively. Serotypes III (34.5%) and Ia (29.7%) were most common. All GBS isolates were susceptible to penicillin and 4.1% were resistant to erythromycin. Overall, maternal and neonatal E. coli colonization rates were 19.9% and 14.4%, respectively. In total, 71.4% of newborns with E. coli colonization were born to E. coli-negative mothers. E. coli was resistant to ampicillin and piperacillin in 25.9% and 16.6% of cases, respectively. The majority of E. coli-colonized newborns were contaminated with maternal fecal, but not vaginal, E. coli strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal and neonatal GBS colonization rates, serotypes, and susceptibility to antibiotics were comparable to those reported in previous studies. Population-based data regarding early-onset neonatal infection rates will enable the formulation of a prevention program for early-onset GBS disease in Lithuania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania. eglebarcaite@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barcaite
authors.forename: Arnoldas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartusevicius
authors.forename: Rasa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tameliene
authors.forename: Laima
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maleckiene
authors.forename: Astra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitkauskiene
authors.forename: Ruta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nadisauskiene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004423:Ear / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents