Prevalence of Group - BStreptococcal Colonization in Vagina and Rectum of 35-37 Weeks Pregnant Women and its Sensitivity to Antibiotics

Prevalence of colonization of group B Streptococci in genital or lower GI system of pregnant women varies from 5 to 40 %. Race, age, geographical location, socioeconomic and marriage status are causes of this variability. Penicillin is the drug of choice and ampicillin is an acceptable regimen for the treatment of mother-to-be and fetus streptococcal infection. The goal of this study was to study its epidemiological prevalence among pregnant women of 35 to 37 weeks of gestation and sensitivity. In this study 250 pregnant women between 35-37 weeks of gestation who visited our prenantal care unit were evaluated. Two samples from vagina and rectom were taken. The samples were assessed moicrobiologically for b-Streptococcus and an anti-biogram for evlaution of sensitivity to ceftizoxim, cephazolin, penicillin and ampicillin.From 250 cases, 33 patients (13.2%) had positive streptococcal culture in vagina or rectom. Mode of previous delivery, history of corioamnionitis, PROM, preterm labor in previous pregnancy, age and gravity had no significant correlation with incidence of streptococcal colonization. Antibiotic sensitivity of 97%, 93%, 56% and 50%of cases were sensitive to ceftizoxim, cephazolin, penicillin and ampicillin respectively. The prevalence of streptococcal colonization is as same as other studies. However, unlike other study that recommend penicillin or ampicillin as the first line therapy, in our study suggests that cephalosporins are the drug of choice for treatment.