Prevalence of Asymptomatic Group B Streptococcal Bacteriuria Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Central Hospital Benin City

Group B Streptococcal (GBS) colonization causes asymptomatic bacteriuria or urinary tract infection in pregnancy. Pregnant women who are GBS carriers have the potential of transmitting the organism to their new-born infants which causes sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic Group B Streptococcal bacteriuria among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. A total of 160 clean catch mid-stream urine samples from consenting pregnant women were processed and analysed using cultural, morphological, biochemical and serological assay for detection and confirmation of GBS. Socio-demographic information such as the patients’ age, gestation, sexual behaviour, education, type of residence, occupation and clinical data were obtained using questionnaires, in other to analyse possible risk factors for GBS. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of GBS isolates was determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Out of the 160 pregnant subjects, 5(3.1 %) had GBS bacteriuria. There was no statistically significant association between GBS colonization and the socio-demographic risk factors analysed (p > 0.05). Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that GBS exhibited 20 %, 80 %, 20 % and 60 % susceptibility to Penicillin, Vancomycin, Levofloxacin and Ertapenem respectively. This study showed that GBS colonizes genitourinary tract in pregnant women. Although Penicillin is the recommended drug for treatment, this study showed a reduced susceptibility of GBS to Penicillin. It is therefore recommended that screening for GBS bacteriuria in pregnant women and proper treatment should be considered an essential part of antenatal care in the clinics in this region.