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

Abstract. Colonization with group B streptococci of the genital tract was studied in 1115 women during the last trimester of pregnancy. 76 or 6.82 % were found to harbour this bacterium. The incidence of contamination was significantly higher among Belgian women than among parturients of Mediterranean origin ( p < 0.001). It was also more frequent in primigravidae ( p <0.05) and in the poorer (0.10 < p > 0.05). At the time of admission in the delivery room, it was noticed that rupture of the amniotic membranes for more than 24 hours was more often associated with group B streptococcal carriage by the mother ( p <0.001). 29 out of 68 (42.6%) infants born to group B streptococci positive mothers were colonized at birth. 67 of them were submitted to a controlled trial of immediate versus delayed penicillin therapy. 44.8 % and 42.1 % of the neonates were contaminated at birth in each group of treatment respectively. No instance of group B streptococcal infection developed in either group. This suggests that immediate therapy with penicillin of infants of group B streptococci positive mothers has no definite advantage upon delayed treatment.