Antibiogram of Group B Streptococci Isolated from the Vagina of Pregnant Women in Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Group B streptococcal (GBS) prevalence varies from place to place; this organism is responsible for serious infections in newborns, such as septicemia and meningitis. The present study was aimed to find out the antibiogram of Group B Streptococci isolated from the vagina of pregnant women who were in the third trimester of pregnancy and to identify the risk factors for its colonization in vagina. The study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, M. R. Medical College & Hospital, Gulbarga during a period from January 2007 to December 2007. Two hundred pregnant women who were in the third trimester of pregnancy and attending the antenatal clinics were included in the study. Two low vaginal swabs were taken from each women included in the study and were immediately transported to the laboratory for processing. Direct gram staining was done from one swab and the other swab was inoculated into sheep blood agar plate and incubated at 37ºC for 24-48 hours. Identification of organism was based on gram staining, colony morphology, catalase reaction, Christie Atkins Munch Petersen (CAMP) and Hippurate hydrolysis test. Of the 200 pregnant women screened, 7.5% were colonized by GBS. Incidence of GBS colonization was higher among pregnant women in the third trimester who were 25 years of age and primigravida. All the isolates were sensitive to Ampicillin, Erythromycin and Penicillin but were resistant to Gentamicin and Kanamycin.