Open AccessPrenatal and neonatal Group B Streptococcus screening and serotyping in Lebanon: incidence and implications
Author(s) -
SEOUD MUHEIDDINE,
NASSAR ANWAR H.,
ZALLOUA PIERRE,
BOGHOSSIAN NANSI,
EZEDDINE JIHAD,
FAKHOURY HASSAN,
ABBOUD JOSEPH,
MELKI IMAD,
ARAJ GEORGE,
NACOUZI GHINWA,
SANYOURA MAY,
YUNIS KHALID
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016340903560008
Subject(s) - medicine , serotype , group b , incidence (geometry) , obstetrics , transmission (telecommunications) , streptococcus , colonization , pregnancy , epidemiology , pediatrics , immunology , physics , electrical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bacteria , optics , genetics , engineering
The study aimed at determining the prevalence, risk factors, perinatal transmission, and serotypes of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) among pregnant women and their newborns in Beirut, Lebanon. This was a cross‐sectional study of all pregnant women admitted from February to September 2006 to three major hospitals. Overall, 137 of 775 (17.7%) mothers and 50 of 682 newborns (7.3%) tested positive for GBS. Maternal colonization was not associated with maternal age, household income, gravidity, intrapartum fever, preterm labor, or premature rupture of membrane. Transmission rate was 40/120 (30%). Serotype 5 (24.1%) was the most common followed by serotype 1a (15.0%), 3 (14.4%), 2 (11.8%) and 1b (7.5%). Pregnant women in Lebanon appear to have a relatively high prevalence of GBS colonization with no identifiable risk factors for its acquisition. These results could provide basis for the institution of a national policy for universal maternal GBS screening to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.