GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL COLONIZATION OF PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR NEONATES Epidemiological Study and Controlled Trial of Prophylactic Treatment of the Newborn

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Abstract
Colonization with group B streptococci of the genital tract was studied in 1115 women during the last trimester of pregnancy. Of these, 76 (6.82%) harbored this bacterium. The incidence of contamination was significantly higher among Belgian women than among parturients of Mediterranean origin (P < 0.001). It was more frequent in primigravidae (P < 0.05) and in the poor (0.10 < P > 0.05). At the time of admission in the delivery room, rupture of the amniotic membranes for more than 24 h was more often associated with group B streptococcal carriage by the mother (P < 0.001). Of 68 infants born to group B streptococci positive mothers, 29 (42.6%) were colonized at birth and 67 were submitted to a controlled trial of immediate vs. delayed penicillin therapy. Of the neonates, 44.8 and 42.1% were contaminated at birth in each group of treatment, respectively. No instance of group B streptococcal infection developed in either group. Immediate therapy with penicillin of infants of group B streptococci positive mothers may have no definite advantage upon delayed treatment.