Epidemiology of Group B Streptococcus in Egypt : Colonization Rate and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Group B Streptococcus in Pregnant Women

Group B Streptococci (GBS) infections have long been recognized as a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in newborn infants. Thirty eight (25.3%) women were found to be colonized with GBS. A significant association was found to be between GBS colonization and increasing age and multi-parity. Colonization rates were significantly higher in pregnant women 30 years and after the third pregnancy. PCR assay, latex agglutination testing and Islam medium are reliable methods to detect GBS in late pregnancy with the advantage that PCR assays and latex agglutination test when done directly on the primary broth cultures provided detection of GBS 24 h sooner than the culture method using Islam medium. Penicillin G stills to be the first choice antibiotic for the treatment of GBS infections. Resistance to cefotaxime was detected in 3 Isolates (7.89 %). Five isolates (13.15%) were resistant to erythromycin and 3 (7.89%) were intermediate. Nine isolates (23.86%) were resistant to clindamycin.