Analysis of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes in group B streptococcus from clinical samples

Abstract Background Streptococcus agalacticae (Group B , GBS) is one of the most important causative agents serious infections among neonates. This study was carried out to identify antibiotic resistance and virulence genes associated with GBS isolated from pregnant women. Methods A total 43 isolates were obtained 420 vaginal samples collected HIV positive negative women who 13–35 weeks attending Antenatal Care at Chitungwiza Harare Central Hospitals in Zimbabwe. Identification tests done using standard bacteriological methods molecular identification testing. Antibiotic susceptibility testing modified Kirby-Bauer method E-test strips. The boiling used extract DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) screen for 13 genes. Data fed into SPSS 24.0. Results Nine distinct gene profiles identified hly-scpB-bca-rib 37.2% (16/43) common. namely hly 97.8% (42/43), scpB 90.1% (39/43), bca 86.0% (37/43), rib 69.8% (30/43) bac 11.6% (5/43). High tetracycline 97.7% (42/43) reported followed by 72.1% (31/43) cefazolin, penicillin G, 58.1% (25/43) ampicillin, 55.8% (24/43) clindamycin, 46.5% (20/43) ceftriaxone, 34.9% (15/43) chloramphenicol, 30.2% (13/43) both erythromycin vancomycin disk diffusion. resistant intermediate-resistant showed high frequencies tetM 97.6% (41/42) low ermB 34.5% (10/29), ermTR 10.3% (3/29), mefA 3.4% (1/29), tetO 2.4% (1/42) linB 0% (0/35). atr housekeeping yielded 100% (43/43) results, whilst mobile genetic element IS1548 9.3% (4/43). Conclusion prevalence hly, scpB, S. agalactiae strains Tetracycline predominantly caused gene, macrolide due presence erm methylase, being more prevalent. Multi-drug coupled recovery antimicrobial such as penicillins indicates importance surveillance tests. It also observed that vitro phenotypic not always accurately predicted genotypes.