Epidemiology of group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in mothers and their neonates at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Two hundred mothers and their newborn babies were examined for the presence of Group B streptococcus (GBS), at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), during a three month period, between May and August 1985- Ten of the two hundred mothers were found to be positive for GBS, giving a vaginal colonization rate of 5%. Of the two hundred babies examined, twenty nine" were positive for GBS giving a carriage rate of 14* - 60jS of the positive mothers had babies who were also positive, while only 12.1/S of the GBS negative mothers had positive babies, thus indicating that the chances of a baby acquiring GBS were significantly higher if the mother was vaginally positive for GBS. There was no association between GBS colonization and maternal age, parity, contraceptive use or obstetrical complications. No association was found between GBS colonization of the babies and the infants sex, gestational age or birth weight. However, when GBS disease was considered, though numbers were small, the low birth weight (LBW) babies were mainly affected. The attack rate for GBS disease was found to be 6.9 per 100 colonized babies. The death rate was higher in the GBS colonized babies, however the difference was not statistically significant. GBS was found to be sensitive to penicillin, cloxacillin. ampicillin and erythromycin, but resistant to streptomycin.