title: Prospective analysis of risk factors associated with group B streptococcal colonisation in neonates born at a tertiary care centre in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial colonisation of neonates and the birth canal by group B streptococci (GBS) plays a significant role in the development of neonatal infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of GBS colonisation in neonates in the first 48 hours of life and to identify the risk factors associated with GBS colonisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  To estimate GBS colonisation, a prospective cross-sectional analysis of 1050 neonates delivered at a tertiary care hospital in India was undertaken. Swabs were taken from the neonates' skin and/or mucus membranes of the external ear canal, anterior nares, umbilicus, throat and ano-rectal sites between 24 and 48 hours of age. Data regarding the various risk factors were collected on a predesigned performa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  338 (32·2%) of 1050 neonates had bacterial colonisation. Escherichia coli (25·9%), was the bacteria most commonly isolated, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (16·3%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CONS) (12·6%). The overall rate of GBS colonisation was 3·23%. Preterm birth, respiratory distress at birth, prolonged rupture of membranes (≧18 hrs), intrapartum antibiotics, underlying medical illness in the mother, prolonged labour, maternal fever and other obstetric complications were identified as significant risk factors associated with neonatal GBS colonisation (P<0·05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multi-centre and community-based studies in India are recommended to identify the true colonisation rates for GBS, and it is necessary to perform cultures from multiple body sites of neonates in order to obtain an accurate bacteriological evaluation.
authors.forename: Dhara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Valinderjeet Singh
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Randhawa
authors.forename: Sushma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nangia
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dutta
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: GBS colonisation; GBS,; Group B streptococci,; Group B streptococcus,; Neonatal colonisation,; Risk factors in neonatal colonisation,; Streptococcus agalactiae,