Citation:
Abstract:
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) can cause severe pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis in neonates and represents one of the most prevalent causes of invasive neonatal infections. Prenatal screening and prenatal antibiotic prophylaxis can prevent maternal transmission of Streptococcus agalactiae during delivery. The objective of this study was to determine the maternal risk of maternal carriage of group B Streptococcus over time, to offer reliable epidemiological data to the health staff working at maternity Meriem Bouatoura, Batna (Northeast Algeria) or even all maternity hospitalsin Algeria. In this prospective study, vaginalspecimens(lower third) were collected from 150 pregnant women. The samples were cultured on 5% sheep blood and Chromagar Orientation. The method of confirming the identification of GBS was he agglutination test using the PASTOREX® Strep Kit. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby Bauer method. A total of 150 patients were evaluated, on average in the 34th week of pregnancy. Fifteen patients were GBS positive, a percentage rate of 10%. In conclusion, regular vaginal culture screening in the third trimester of pregnancy is warranted, as well as evaluation of risk factors and need for antibiotic administration to infants at risk.