ANTIBACTERIAL RESISTANCE PATTERN OF GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI INFECTION IN PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ST JOHN’S HOSPITAL, OWERRI, NIGERIA

Abstract

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci, GBS) is one of the causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. It is associated with severe maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study investigated antibacterial resistance of group B streptococci infection in pregnant women attending St John’s hospital, Owerri. A cross-sectional research was conducted for this study. A total of 50 pregnant women with a gestational period of ≥36 weeks were included. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the participants’ demographic and clinical history. Vaginal-rectal samples were collected by brushing the lower vagina and rectum with a sterile cotton swab for bacteriological examination. Antibacterial susceptibility test was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The results of this study showed that GBS colonization among pregnant women attending antenatal care was at 13.3% (4/30). The Antibacterial susceptibility test result showed that the majority of the isolates were sensitive to vancomycin (96.6%), chloramphenicol (96.6%), ampicillin (93.1%) azithromycin (89.7%), and penicillin (86.2%). In contrast, the isolates were found to be resistant to ceftriaxone, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, and tetracycline at 17.2%, 20.7%, 27.6%, 27.6%, and 34.5%, respectively. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was noted in 4 isolates (13.79%). GBS colonization was significantly associated with history of preterm labor (18 hours). The colonization rate of GBS was considerably high among pregnant women attending antenatal care in the present study area. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that there should be administration of appropriate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis which has the function of reducing the risk of early-onset disease in newborns caused by GBS infection to all women whose vaginal–rectal cultures are positive for GBS.