Streptococcus agalactiae, commonly called group B streptococcus (GBS) is a commensal bacterium of the digestive tract. Then, intermittent colonization of genital tract can occur. These bacteria can become pathogenic for pregnant women in certain circumstances and lead to premature birth, puerperal fever… In fact, an ascending infection can cause maternal, fetal and early-onset neonatal disease (days 0 - 6), leading to maternal death, stillbirth and/or neonatal death or morbidity [1] [2].

The bacterial epidemiology of neonatal meningitis places GBS in the lead. GBS is the main cause of neonatal bacterial meningitis. According to a study at maternity hospitals in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, GBS infections represented 61.5% of neonatal bacterial meningitis with a mortality rate of 44.06% [3]. GBS is also responsible for 15% - 25% of puerperal fevers with or without bacteremia [4].

Despite its pathogenicity, GBS remains one of the microorganisms for which no vaccine is available [5]. Screening is needed to evaluate vaginal colonization by GBS and to study the pattern of antibiotic susceptibility in order to have an appropriate intervention against these infections. According to studies conducted in several countries, the prevalence of this vaginal colonization by GBS in women is varied: United States of America (14%) [6] , India/Pakistan (12%) [6] , Belgium (12%) [7] and Togo (2.5%) [8].

Unfortunately, we are unaware of a study in which the prevalence of vaginal colonization by GBS was assessed in Burkina Faso and there is no national recommendation on systematic vaginal sampling after antenatal examinations. Yet the risk of maternal-fetal transmission is markedly high during childbirth. Antibiotic prophylaxis is based solely on risk factors. A multi-state study in United States of America indicated that effectiveness of screening-based approach was greater (above 50%) than the one of antibiotic-based approach during the prevention of perinatal GBS infections [9]. Also antibiotic-based approach strategy increases the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. To evaluate the harm, this first study in Burkina Faso was conducted to determine the prevalence, the risk factors of maternal colonization with GBS and the antibiotics susceptibility of GBS isolates.

During the study, 611 pregnant women were screened, at a minimum, maximum and average age of 14, 42 and 26 years respectively. Most of the women were married (93.62%). With reference to the level of schooling, the percentage was 43.21%, 29.46%, 25.04% and 2.29% corresponding to never went to school, went to school up to primary, secondary, and university level respectively (Table 1). Four hundred and twenty-nine of the women (70.2%) were pauci- or multipara. Seventy-two (11.78%) of the women had at least four children and one hundred and ninety-three (31.59%) did not have any child. The lowest parity was one and the highest one was eight with an average of 1.17. Almost the half of women (49.76%) coming for consultation, were in the third trimester of pregnancy while only 19.80% and 30.44% were in the first and second trimester respectively (Table 2).

Upon bacteriological analysis, thirty-seven (37) strains of GBS have been isolated from 37 pregnant women, representing a bacterial carriage rate of 6.05% (37/611).

The sociodemographic characteristics of GBS carriers (women) are shown on (Table 3). Any risk factor associated with the carriage was identified. Among the subjects that were colonized with GBS, GBS colonization was higher among women with 35 years old and more (10.87%) according to 3.64% in younger (26 - 29) women. The prevalence of GBS colonization was higher among women schooled up to primary level than those who did not school or reached secondary or higher level. Regarding the marital status, the prevalence of GBS carriage was not significantly different with 5.13% among unmarried women and 7.12% among women living in couples.

The highest colonization of the SGB was found in the group of female employees and craftswomen (7.06%) and the low colonization among resellers (4.83%). The lowest rate of carriage was observed among those who didn’t go to school (4.55%) (Table 3).

None of the sociodemographic characteristics analysed could explain GBS portage and there was no statistically significance between our groups studied.

The prevalence was higher among women in the first trimester of pregnant women (8.26%) followed by those in the third trimester (6.58%) and in the second trimester (3.76%). The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.23 > 0.05) (Table 4).

The parity was from zero to five children with an average of 1.54. The rate of colonization by GBS in women who gave birth at least four times (8.33%) was higher than the one in those who delivered between two and four times (4.37%). However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.4 > 0.05) (Table 4).

The gravidity was between one and six with an average of 2.76. There was no significant difference between the colonization rate in women who got pregnant once (7.14%) and those who got pregnant at several times (5.59%) (p = 0.46 > 0.05).

Antibiomicrobial susceptibility pattern of the 37 GBS isolates from pregnant women against 12 antimicrobial agents is presented in Figure 1. All strains were susceptible (100%) to Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, cefotaxime Vancomycin, levofloxacin and Nitrofurantoin. Resistance was observed for penicillin (10.81%), erythromycin (35.14%), lincomycine (16.22%) ciprofloxacin (13.51%), tetracycline (83.78%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (100%).

We carried out a prospective cross-sectional study. Inclusions were made with pregnant women who presented for prenatal consultation. Some patients were on antibiotic therapy and others refused to enter the study. These aspects did not allow them to be included, thus limiting the possibilities for inclusion. On the other hand, we did not have the HIV status that would have better broadened the scope of our results. Despite these limitations, the results of our study remain scientifically valid.

In this study, the prevalence of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization among pregnant women in Bobo-Dioulasso was found to be 6.05%. However, the prevalence varied according to the health centers: 4.16% at the Sikasso Cira health and social promotion center 10.10% at the Farakan Health and Social Promotion Center. Loulergue et al. in France, reported different observations; out of 23 study centers where the same isolation technique and different collection techniques were used, the prevalence ranged from 5.1% to 22.5% [11].

The fact that we used the same sampling technique and isolation method might explain this slight variation of GBS colonization prevalence in our study. It should be mentioned, that the overall GBS carriage rate varies widely, depending on the country, the sampling sites, the period of screening and the study population.

However, in our study, the prevalence of GBS vaginal carriage is comparable to the 6.7% rate found by Foumane et al. in Cameroon [12] where the study was conducted under the same conditions. Despite its low rate, GBS carriage was greater than the prevalence (2.5%) found by Salou et al. in Togo [8]. This difference with the Togolese study may be due to the cultural practice of the study population. Behaviors such as intimate toilets incorrectly performed in our context may explain the high rate.

Indeed, when the women realize the toilets from bottom of their genital area to the top it will favour the contamination of the genital mucosa by the bacteria from intestinal flora, particularly the vaginal bacteria at high risk of infection (VBHRI). In addition, these toilets cause moisture that promotes bacterial overgrowth. Among these bacteria, we can mention: GBS and other β-hemolytic streptococci, Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus influenzae and other Gram-negative bacilli. This helps to increase the rate of vaginal contamination by GBS in these women.

However, the prevalence found in our study remains low compared to those reported by Onipede et al. in Nigeria (11.3%) [13] , Musa et al. in Ethiopia (20.9%) [14] , and Alham et al. in Morocco (20.2%) [15]. These differences could be explained by the fact that only women in the third trimester of pregnancy were included in these studies. Hormonal imbalance during the 3rd trimester, which favours the fixation of bacteria other than lactobacilli, would justify this high prevalence of GBS. In studies carried out in some European countries, higher rate were obtained, such as France 16.7% [16] and Belgium 22% [7].

This may be justified by the fact that in Africa the context of the high prevalence of genital infection where other germs such as Candida spp, Gardnerella vaginalis and Mobiluncus spp have the same ecology as GBS. The latter being a fragile germ, the metabolites of other bacteria are harmful to its growth. As results, the other germ can take over.

In our study, we collected only vaginal samples. In the study carried by Bennouna et al. in Morocco, the prevalence of GBS anal carriage was estimated at 11.7% whereas the one for GBS vaginal carriage was 3.3%. The global prevalence of GBS carriage in this study was found to be 23.3% [17]. Regarding the study conducted by Agricola et al. in Tanzania, vaginal carriage alone was evaluated at 12.2% compared to 5% for anal with a global GBS carriage of 23% at the two sites [18]. The various prevalences reported in these studies would explain the fact that the rate of GBS carriage also varies according to the sites of sampling. The higher vaginal rate found in Tanzania could be justified by sexual contaminations.

In our study, screening was performed regardless of the period of pregnancy. Thus, the carriage was estimated at 8.6% in the first quarter, 3.76% in the second quarter, and 6.58% in the third quarter. This disparity could be explained by the reasons for consulting women in the first trimester of our series such as repeated abortion, multiple cesarean sections, and pregnancy-related pathology. We could assume that may be this is a more high risk population and there is selection bias in collecting the samples.

In the present study, no statistically significant association was observed for GBS colonization in the study subjects based on the sociodemographic characteristics. Although the literature on GBS screening is plentiful, few studies have really focused on risk factors for maternal carriage. Similar findings have been reported by Bennouna et al. as well as by Alham et al. both in Morocco [15] [17]. However, the extensive study carried out by Stapleton et al. in the United States of America, which involved 40.459 colonized women compared to 84.268 controls [19] , the high level of population study, was significantly associated with the carriage of GBS.

Our results could be justified by the level of study of our population, which is predominantly dominated (72.67%) by uneducated people and those at primary school. Women of high level of study realize an excessive genital hygiene and sometimes introduce cosmetic products into their vagina. These practices cause the imbalance of the vulvovaginal flora by scraping Döderlein bacilli useful for protection against the invasion of other germs.

Regarding the susceptibility of strains to antibiotics, GBS strains isolated in our study were all (100%) susceptible to amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, levofloxacin, vancomycin and nitrofurantoin. Similar findings have been reported in studies conducted by Ferjani et al. in Tunisia [19] and Loulergue et al. in France [11]. In addition to this good susceptibility to the antibiotics mentioned, resistance to other antibiotic has been found.

We reported in our series that 10.81% of GBS isolates were resistant to penicillin G. Although some studies have reported a lack of resistance to penicillin G [8] [20] , the prevalence found in our study is close to 9.4% found by of Agricola et al. in Tanzania. In their study, out of sixty-nine (69) strains isolated, six (6) strains were resistant to penicillin G [17]. This resistance of our series could be justified by the frequent use of this molecule in the past at the level of our sanitary system and/or the phenomenon of self-medication. Indeed, penicillin G was a broad-spectrum and easily accessible antibiotic. This penicillin was used during the empirical treatment of several infections such as purulent meningitis, sexually transmitted infections (syphilis and gonorrhea) and infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Macrolides are given in cases of allergy, as an alternative to beta-lactams for peri-partum antibiotic prophylaxis to GBS infection. The study of the susceptibility of these molecules reported that 35.14% of the strains were resistant to erythromycin, and 16.22% to lincomycin.

The resistance of GBS to erythromycin has been studied by several authors who reported resistance rates that ranged from 6.9% to 51.3% [11] [13] [14] [19]. The high rate of erythromycin resistance found in our study is explained by its wide prescription in the first line. Indeed, erythromycin is not used only in cases of allergy to beta-lactams but especially when beta-lactams are finished.

In addition, the side effect related to the digestive intolerance of this molecule generates poor compliance during treatment that could lead to macrolide resistance. This large-scale use promotes awareness of GBS that will develop resistance mechanisms. Failure to follow treatment will create antibiotic-induced stress that increases the rate of genetic exchange including that of genes conferring resistance.

In the study of Ferjani et al. in Tunisia resistance to lincomycin, a molecule that can serve as an alternative to erythromycin, has been estimated at 46.2% [19]. This low resistance rate observed during our study is due to the moderate prescription of this molecule related to its availability in our context.

In our study, 13.51% of strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Musa et al. reported similar result of 13.8% during their work on the prevalence of GBS in Ethiopia [14]. The easy access, the broad spectrum and the exclusively oral route of administration could explain this resistance observed in our study. Thus ciprofloxacin is used for empirical treatment of frequent infections in our health system such as urinary tract infections and typhoid fever.

In our study, 83.78% of strains were resistant to tetracycline. This rate is close to 81.7% of resistant strains found by Loulergue et al. during their work on the antibiotic susceptibility of strains of vaginal GBS isolated in France [11].

This high proportion is justified by the existence of the acquired resistance to tetracycline that is common, mainly by acquisition of a ribosomal protection protein encoded by the Tet (M) gene.

In this first study of vaginal colonization by GBS in Burkina Faso, we found a carriage rate of 6.05% among pregnant women in Bobo-Dioulasso. This prevalence was low compared to the ones obtained by other authors. Nevertheless, it allows the first time to show that the vaginal carriage of the SGB is a reality in our country. No risk factors associated with the carriage of GBS were found in our study.

All strains isolated were susceptible to amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, levofloxacin, vancomycin and nitrofurantoin. Resistance was detected to penicillin G (10.81%), erythromycin (43.24%) and lincomycin (16.22%). Neonatal infection due by early onset GBS is a therapeutic emergency, and the severe outcome resulting in neonatal meningitis justifies the need to screen the GBS vaginal carriage at the last stage of pregnancy and a preventive intrapartum antibiotics in case of vaginal colonization by the bacteria.

GBS: Group B Streptococcus; SS-UTH: Souro Sanou University Teaching Hospital; FBA: Fresh Blood Agar; ACN: Colistin and Nalidixic; CAMP: Christie-Atkins-Munch-Pertersen; ATCC: American Type Culture Collection; SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences; VBHRI: Vaginal Bacteria at High Risk of Infection.

The patients’ oral consents were sought and gained by explaining to them the objectives of the study and its benefits. Then, questionnaire on demographic data and obstetric history was filled for each participant. The study was approved by the regional health direction.

See Additional File (2016/0027/MS/RHBS/DRS).

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

Sourô Sanou University Hospital supported this research. In fact Sourô Sanou University Hospital brought the reagents and consumables for the collection of samples, the bacteriological identification and antibiogram of GBS strains.

ASO suggested the initial hypothesis, designed the study, acquired and analysed all data presented. The first drafting of the manuscript was undertaken by ASO, YS, DAS, AV, SS, SO, FM, AP, MB, LS and SG were equally involved in helping to develop the hypothesis and the critical appraisal/re-writing of the manuscript.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

ASO takes overall responsibility for the integrity of the work.

The authors acknowledge Siaka Traore, Salimata Coroma, Adama Kabore and Georges Bieboure for their technical helps. We would like to thank medical practitioners at Sourô Sanou University Hospital and medical center with surgical antenna of Do (Bobo Dioulasso) for assisting us in the inclusion of our participants. Our hearty thanks also to our worthy Souro Sanou University Hospital and all those that we have inadvertently forgotten for their immense support and encouragement.

Ours sincere thanks to Clement Ziemble Meda, epidemiologist and ex Regional Health Director for the authorization he has granted to conduct this study.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ouédraogo, A.-S., Sawadogo, Y., Somé, D.A., Vercoutere, A., Sanou, S., Ouattara, S., Michodigni, F., Poda, A., Bambara, M., Sangaré, L. and Godreuil, S. (2019) Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus among Pregnant Women in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). Open Journal of Medical Microbiology, 9, 63-76. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojmm.2019.93008

- Authorization of the Regional Health Direction

- This document made it possible to carry out the collection in all the sites without any problems and facilitated the participation of the participants.