Third trimester colonisation and treatment of group B β-haemolytic streptococcus among obstetric patients in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Summary

A total of 1939 pregnant women were screened for group B p-haemolytic streptococcal colonisation. The colonisation rate was 17–2 per cent. Colonisation was not affected by age or parity and all the husbands were circumcised. The vagina and the urethra were the most commonly colonised site; rectal colonisation was much less frequent. Treatment of colonised women with benzathine-penicillin i.m. at 34 weeks of pregnancy reduced intrapartum colonisation, but had no influence on neonatal transmission. Failure of antepartum treatment to reduce neonatal transmission together with the large number of defaulters in this study makes the intrapartum fast latex agglutination test for group B streptococci desirable.