Maternal genital tract colonisation by group-B streptococcus: a hospital based study.

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of Group B Streptococcus genital tract infection in pregnant women and to determine the risk factors for its colonisation. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi and Sobhraj Hospital, Karachi, from May to August 2007. Pregnant women at 35-37 weeks gestation attending antenatal clinic at these hospitals constituted the study population. Based on stratified sampling, 405 patients were recruited. High vaginal swabs of these patients were taken in order to calculate the prevalence of infection at each hospital. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the risk factor association. SPSS 11.5 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The overall prevalence of colonisation was 17% (n = 69) (95% CI: 13.4-20.7). Of the 155 (38.27%) women at the Aga Khan Hospital, 35 (22.6%) were positive, while among the 250 (61.72%) women at Sobhraj Hospital, the prevalence was 13.6% (n = 34). The colonisation was found to be significantly associated inversely with the body mass index of the patient (OR 0.91; 95% CI: 0.08-1.0). CONCLUSION Group B Streptococcus screening should be an integral part of antenatal care and should be offered to all pregnant women.