Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes of Group B Streptococcus Infection in Preterm Births

Departments of Obstetric Gynecology, Pediatrics, Clinical Pathology, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea Objective: This study examines whether maternal group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae, GBS) infection was associated with preterm births and premature neonatal outcomes. Methods: Maternal and neonatal outcomes were examined among singleton pregnant women with preterm birth (from 24 weeks to 36 weeks) who were tested for GBS (n=203) during the pregnancy. Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of women who delivered at our hospital from January 2015 to February 2017. We compared obstetrical factors (causes of preterm birth) and neonatal (gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar score 1 min/5 min, hospitaliza tion period, duration of mechanical ventilation, neonatal Creactive protein within three days, and other complication [respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal deaths]) outcomes between GBSinfect ed and noninfected pregnant women. Results: There were 203 singleton pregnant women included in the study, 25 of whom were con firmed to have a GBS infection during the pregnancy. There was no difference in neonatal outcomes by GBS status. Preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), as an obstetric factor, was asso ciated with GBS infection (P=0.022). GBS infection raised the risk of pPROM by 3.6 times (odds ratio 3.648, 95% confidence interval 1.4769.016, P=0.005). Conclusion: GBS infection in preterm birth was associated with pPROM but did not result in adverse neonatal outcomes. Continuous attention and evaluation of GBS infection, a major cause of neonatal sepsis and pneumonia, are needed.