TITLE:
Are Mikvehs Responsible for GBS Carriers among Orthodox Jewish Women?—A Prospective Observational Study
AUTHORS:
Jacky Herzlich, Daniel Lubin, Yehudit Schindler, Osnat Wittmann, Ronella Marom
KEYWORDS:
Group B Streptococcus Carrier, Mikveh, Colonization, Religiosity, Early on Set Sepsis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.10 No.7,
July
20,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Maternal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS) is an important
risk factor for neonatal sepsis. A “mikveh” is a pool of water for ritual
immersion by Jewish women. It had been reported to be a risk factor for GBS
colonization. Objective: To determine whether there is an association between
ritual immersion in the mikveh pools and GBS carriership. Methods: Water
samples and bacterial swabs were taken from eight mikveh pools centers at two
separate occasions and tested for GBS growth. For determination of the total
number of live, aerobic bacteria, each sample was grown on strep selective agar
for 48 hours at 37°C and CO2 5%. Results: All the samples
were tested. No trace of GBS was found in any of the samples. Conclusions: The findings of this study refute earlier findings and suggest that there is no
association between ritual immersion in mikvehs and GBS carriership.