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Incidence and risk factors for group B Streptococcus colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes

  • Authors:
    • Lina Raid Al‑Obaidi
    • Najah Shakir Alkhalil
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad 10047, Iraq
    Copyright: © Al‑Obaidi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].
  • Article Number: 107
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    Published online on: September 19, 2025
       https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.395
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Abstract

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), also known as Streptococcus agalactiae, is the normal flora present in the female urogenital tract and rectum. Globally, it is estimated that 15 to 40% of pregnant women are colonised by GBS. Its chief clinical significance is that it is an acknowledged risk factor for the early onset of neonatal sepsis (even when colonisation is asymptomatic), as it can be transferred during delivery to neonates from their colonised mothers, and can cause sepsis and meningitis in newborns. The present analytical cross‑sectional study included 100 women experiencing preterm labour. Data were collected from the January 1, 2023 to November 1, 2023. Preterm birth was defined as birth at a gestational age from 28 to 36 weeks + 6 days. The exclusion criteria were women pregnant with a foetus diagnosed with congenital anomalies, with premature rupture of membranes, or women with fever, an elevated white blood cell count or any features suggestive of chorioamnionitis. Prior to delivery, a vaginal and rectal swab sample was obtained during a vaginal examination and was sent to the laboratory for the culture of GBS. All mothers received intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. The prevalence of GBS colonisation was found to be 8%. As regards the risk factors associated with maternal GBS colonisation, a statistically significant association was detected between GBS colonisation and both diabetes and a higher pre‑pregnancy body mass index. As regards the outcomes, a positive GBS colonisation was significantly associated with a lower gestational age at birth and poor neonatal survival. Although the present study found that vertical transmission may be controlled by the proper administration of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, babies of mothers with maternal colonisation had poor outcomes (5/8, 62.5% did not survive), as GBS colonisation was significantly associated with a lower gestational age (which was significantly associated with neonatal mortality). Moreover, the present study effectively consolidated the association between maternal group B colonisation and both diabetes mellitus and obesity. Therefore, women with diabetes mellitus and obesity require special attention for the early detection and early management of GBS colonisation.
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Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Al‑Obaidi LR and Alkhalil NS: Incidence and risk factors for group B <em>Streptococcus</em> colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes. World Acad Sci J 7: 107, 2025.
APA
Al‑Obaidi, L.R., & Alkhalil, N.S. (2025). Incidence and risk factors for group B <em>Streptococcus</em> colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes. World Academy of Sciences Journal, 7, 107. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.395
MLA
Al‑Obaidi, L. R., Alkhalil, N. S."Incidence and risk factors for group B <em>Streptococcus</em> colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes". World Academy of Sciences Journal 7.6 (2025): 107.
Chicago
Al‑Obaidi, L. R., Alkhalil, N. S."Incidence and risk factors for group B <em>Streptococcus</em> colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes". World Academy of Sciences Journal 7, no. 6 (2025): 107. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.395
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Al‑Obaidi LR and Alkhalil NS: Incidence and risk factors for group B <em>Streptococcus</em> colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes. World Acad Sci J 7: 107, 2025.
APA
Al‑Obaidi, L.R., & Alkhalil, N.S. (2025). Incidence and risk factors for group B <em>Streptococcus</em> colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes. World Academy of Sciences Journal, 7, 107. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.395
MLA
Al‑Obaidi, L. R., Alkhalil, N. S."Incidence and risk factors for group B <em>Streptococcus</em> colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes". World Academy of Sciences Journal 7.6 (2025): 107.
Chicago
Al‑Obaidi, L. R., Alkhalil, N. S."Incidence and risk factors for group B <em>Streptococcus</em> colonisation in pregnant women experiencing preterm labour and neonatal outcomes". World Academy of Sciences Journal 7, no. 6 (2025): 107. https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.395
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