TITLE:
Vaginal Carriage of Group B Streptococcus in Pregnant Women in Rural Areas in Senegal
AUTHORS:
Babacar Ndiaye, Fatoumata Diene Sarr, Mam Coumba Diouf, Rokhaya Diop, Hamidou Thiam, Mohamed Abass Yugo, Rose Mbaye, Amadou Alpha Sall, Cheikh Loucoubar, Abdoulaye Seck
KEYWORDS:
Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae), Vaginal Carriage, Antibiotic Susceptibility, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Microbiology,
Vol.13 No.3,
September
28,
2023
ABSTRACT: Vaginal carriage of Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
is a maternal and child health issue. Our objective was to determine the
prevalence of GBS carriage; identify
the factors associated with this carriage and determine the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolated strains. We conducted
a cross-sectional and prospective study in rural Senegal (in the health
district of Sokone). Socio-demographic, clinical
and gynaeco-obstetrical data were collected. Vaginal swabs were taken by the
midwives on specific settings in order to test for GBS and other High Risk Vaginal
Bacteria (HRVB). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done according to the
recommendations of the CA SFM/EUCAST 2020. In total, 100 pregnant women were targeted and 97 pregnant women were included.
Their age ranged from 18 to 40 years with 64.9% (63/97) of participants
belonging to the “20 - 30” age group. The overall prevalence of Group
B Streptococcus carriage was 15.5% (15/97). However, the proportion of women with at least one high risk infectious bacteria was 29.89% (29/97). No statistically
significant differences were found between GBS carriage and the potential factors studied. However, the study also looked for the presence of other high-risk
bacteria and coinfections were indeed found between GBS and E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic susceptibility testing shows that GBS strains were fully susceptible to penicillin
G, erythromycin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, rifampicin and vancomycin.
Sensitivities to norfloxacin and gentamycin were 73.3% and 86.7% respectively.
In contrast, high resistance to tetracycline (86.7%) was observed. GBS carriage remains a major public
health issue because of its consequences for the mother and the newborn. Correct screening and proper monitoring of strain susceptibility remain one of
the most effective means of patient management and care.