Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A study of risk factors of vaginal colonization with group B streptococci in pregnancy

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two hundred pregnant women were screened for vaginal Group B Streptococci carriage just before delivery. Fifty non-pregnant women were also examined. Vaginal colonization rate of pregnant women and of non-pregnant women was identical (12% in both groups). None of the personal and social characteristics investigated (age, profession, residence, marital status and education) were associated with higher or lower colonization rates. However the influence of the number of previous pregnancies proved to be significant, as pregnant women with 2 or more previous pregnancies tended to be more frequently colonized than primigravidae or secundigravidae women. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible reservoir of the microorganisms and the route of infection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baker C.J. and Barret F.F. (1973): Transmission of Group B streptococci among parturient women and their neonates. - J. Pediatr., 83: 919–925.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Beachler G.W., Baker C.J., Kasper D.L., Fleming D.K., Webb B.J. and You M.D. (1979): Group B streptococci colonization and antibody status in lower socioeconomic parturient women. - Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 133: 171–173.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bishop Y.M.M., Fienberg S.E., Holland P.W. (1975): Discrete multivariate analysis theory and practice. Edited by MIT Press Cambridge Massachusetts and London, England.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Christensen K.K., Christensen P., Flamholg C., Torvald R. (1974): Frequencies of streptococci of groups A, B, C, D and G in urethral and cervix swab specimens from patients with suspected gonococcal infection. - Acta Path. Microbiol. Scand, Sect. B, 82: 470–474.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dillon H.C., Gray E., Pass M.A. and Bary M.G. (1982): Anorectal and vaginal carriage of Group B streptococci during pregnancy, 145: 794–799.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Eickhoff T.C., Klein J.O., Daly A.K., Ingall D. and Finland M. (1964): Neonatal sepsis and other infections due to group B beta-haemolytic streptococci.- N. Engl. J. Med., 271: 1221–1228.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Finch R.G., French G.L. and Phillips L. (1976): Group B streptococci in the female genital tract. -Br. Med. J., 2, 1245–1247.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Goldacre M.J., Watt B., London J.D.D., Milne J.R., London J.D.D., Vessey M.P. (1979): Vaginal microbial flora in normal young women. - Br. Med. J., I: 1450–1454.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hood M., Jamey A. and Damron G. (1961): Betahaemolytic streptococcus group B associated with problems of the perinatal period. - Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 82: 809–818.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Horn K.A., Zimmerman R.A., Knostman J.D. and Meyer W.T. (1974): Neurological sequelae of group B streptococci neonates. - Infect. Pediatr., 53: 501–504.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Islam A.K.M.S. and Thomas E. (1980): Faecal carriage of group B streptococci. - J. Clin. Path., 33: 1006–1008.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Islam A.K.M.S. (1981): Primary carrier sites of group B streptococci in pregnant women correlated with serotype distributions and maternal parity. -J. Clin. Path., 34: 78–81.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jacomina A.A., Hoogkatnp-Korstanie, Gerards L.J. and Cats B.P. (1982): Maternal carriage and neonatal acquisition of Group B streptococci. - J. Infect. Dis., 145: 800–803.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lloyd D.J., Scott K.E., Aternan K., Belgaumkar T.K., Krause V.W. and Worth A.J. (1974): Prevention of Group B beta-haemolytic streptococci septicaemia, in low-birth-weight neonates by penicillin administered within two hours of birth. - Lancet, i: 713–715.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Murphy J.F., Sykes G., Gardiner M., Hannan A. and Verier Zones E.R. (1982): Group B streptococci carrier rate in pregnant women and their newborn infants, - J. Infect., 5: 165–169.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Reid T.M.S. (1975): Emergence of group B streptococci in obstetric and perinatal infection. - Br. Med. J., 2: 1245.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Tabaqchali S., Wilks M. and Thin R.N. (1983): Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobic bacteria in genital disease. - Br. I. Vener. Dis. 59: 111–115.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Taylor E., Blackwell A.L., Barlow D. and Phillips I. (1982): Gardnerella vaginalis anaerobes and vaginal discharge, - Lancet, i: 1376–1379.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Yow M. (1974): Group B streptococci: A serious threat to the neonate. - JAMA, 230: 1177–1178.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Patras, Faculty of Health Sciences, Laboratory of Public Health, Rio, P.O.B. 1045, 261 10, Patras, Greece

    M. Papapetropoulou & X. G. Kondakis

Authors
  1. M. Papapetropoulou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. X. G. Kondakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Papapetropoulou, M., Kondakis, X.G. A study of risk factors of vaginal colonization with group B streptococci in pregnancy. Eur J Epidemiol 3, 419–422 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145655

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145655

Key words

Search

Navigation