ABSTRACT
Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS), also name as
Streptococcus agalactiae, is a gram-positive bacterium know for it
capacity to colonises the vaginal and rectal areas of the mother and is
a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. This study aimed at
determining the prevalence, associated risk factors and antimicrobial
susceptibility of GBS colonization among pregnant women attending
antenatal care at Dschang District Hospital.
Methods: This hospital-base cross-sectional study targeted
pregnant women population attending hospitals for routine prenatal
testing using a multistage sampling method. Pregnant women at 23.46 ±
6.44 weeks gestation completed a questionnaire and vaginal swabs were
obtained for GBS analysis. Data were analysed using chi-squared
(χ2) test or the Fisher’s exact test when appropriate
and the multivariable logistic regression models.
Results: The colonisation rate of GBS among pregnant women was
8.69%. Induce abortion (odds ratio [CI] = 3.09, 95%
[1.56-6.21]), Spontaneaous abortions (OR= 2.82, 95% CI
1.14-7.29), Stillborn (OR [CI] = 7.75, 95%
[2.61-21.71]), Fever (OR [CI] = 0.37, 95% [0.19-0.71]) and
anemia (OR [CI] = 0.22, 95% [0.12-0.43]) were found to be
influencing factors associated with GBS colonisation.
Conclusion : Our findings suggest that none of the studied
factors were significantly associated with GBS colonisation. Further
longitudinal research is needed to establish the causal relationship and
its biological mechanisms.
Keys words: Group B Streptococcus, Prevalence, Risk Factors,
Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Pregnant Women