Incidence of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization Causing Preterm Births and Early Onset Sepsis

This study was conducted to investigate the incidence and prevalence of maternal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation which is associated with increased neonatal mortality and preterm birth for a period of six months to appropriate intervention and monitoring of GBS status during pregnancy and to reduce the rate of early onset neonatal mortality. During the study period 250 antenatal mothers delivering at term at Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Hospital in SALEM, TN, GBS status and other clinical data were obtained from medical records. Exposed women were those testing positive for GBS (GBS positive [n=80]) and the unexposed tested negative for GBS (GBS negative [n=134]). other infections tested 26. Out of 250 antenatal mothers studied 80 were tested positive for GBS colonization and 134 were tested culture negative for GBS, the remaining 36 were mixed infections. The incidence of 32 % GBS colonization was recorded. out of 80 GBS positive cases, the early onset sepsis was observed in retrospectively from the medical records. The incidence of invasive infections verified with blood or CSF culture withtraditional neonatal pathogens in the first 28 days of life was 18 neonates denoted by positive blood culture or CSF. Thus determined association between GBS status and early term delivery and other neonatal infections. Colonization with GBS may have detrimental effects to the term infant through shortening of the gestational age contributing to infant morbidity and mortality warranting appropriate intervention and monitoring of GBS status during pregnancy.