title: Obesity as an independent risk factor for group B streptococcal colonization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Approximately 25% of women are colonized with group B streptococcus (GBS). We assessed whether body mass index (BMI) is an independent risk factor for GBS colonization.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective cohort study using a previously collected database of women who delivered singleton gestations at term. Individual patient medical record review was undertaken to add GBS-related information to the database. Univariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between GBS colonization and BMI. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2045 patients met enrollment criteria. The prevalence of GBS colonization was 29%. In the unadjusted analysis, there was a statistically significant increase in GBS colonization per unit increase in BMI (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.04). This relationship remained significant after adjusting for confounders (race, marital status, payer, chronic hypertension, concomitant genital infections) (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.03; p = 0.04). By BMI category, there were no differences in antibiotic susceptibilities or mode of ascertainment of GBS colonization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity is an independent risk factor for GBS colonization; however, this association is weak.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine , University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Women's Reproductive Health , Birmingham , AL , USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Alvareza
authors.affiliation: a Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine , University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Women's Reproductive Health , Birmingham , AL , USA.
authors.forename: Akila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.affiliation: a Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine , University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Women's Reproductive Health , Birmingham , AL , USA.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: a Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine , University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Women's Reproductive Health , Birmingham , AL , USA.
authors.forename: Rodney K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Obesity; antibiotic prophylaxis; group B streptococcus; pregnancy