Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns and Prevalence of Streptococcus Agalactiae Rectovaginal Colonization Among Pregnant Women in Iran

Abstract

Objective Streptococcus agalactiae is an important pathogen in neonates and pregnant women. Neonatal invasive infections due to S. agalactiae are life-threatening and preventive strategies for this challenge of human have become a concern. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of rectovaginal colonization, related risk factors and antibiotic resistance pattern of S. agalactiae among pregnant women in Iran. Methods The present study was performed on 240 pregnant women. Vaginal and rectal swabs were obtained from all of the women and then were transferred to the laboratory. The isolation and identification of S. agalactiae was performed by standard microbiological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect ermB and mefA genes in erythromycin-nonsusceptible isolates. Results Out of 240 pregnant women, 16 cases (6.7%) were colonized by S. agalactiae. There is no significant association between demographic-obstetric factors and maternal S. agalactiae colonization in the pregnant women. Linezolid, vancomycin and ampicillin were the most effective antibiotics against S. agalactiae. The ermB gene was present in 6 (35.29%) S. agalactiae isolates. However, the mefA gene was not detected in any of the isolates. Conclusion Given the relatively significant prevalence of S. agalactiae colonization in the pregnant women in the present study and the risk of serious neonatal infections, the screening of pregnant mothers for the bacteria seems necessary. Our findings highlight the importance of appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis during pregnancy for the prevention of early onset S. agalactiae-neonatal infection and comorbidity.

Rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic bacteria from urinary tract infections in pregnant women

“…Previously, both symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria studies have also been conducted in Bangladesh, 37 Ethiopia, 38 and Iran. 36 Symptomatic bacteriuria, similar to the current study, was also reported in Pennsylvania, 39 Iran, 40 and India. 41…”

“…coli , Klebsiella , Pseudomonas, and other uropathogenic bacteria have also been reported. 5 , 35 , 36 , 41 , 43 , 50 , 51 , 52 The current study revealed that for uncomplicated and complicated bacteriuria, carbapenems should be preferred over fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins. The data from the current study highlights the need for antibiotic stewardship and the development of new effective antimicrobials that are safe for use in pregnancy.…”

“… 35 Similarly, Dashtizade et al. 36 also reported the prevalence of UTI in Iranian pregnant women. They reported that the population most commonly affected by UTIs were those aged between 21 and 30 years (48.3%), with high school education (38.8%), and who were housewives (90.8%).…”

Role of PCR in Rapid Detection Group B Streptococcus in Pregnant Females in Al-Quwayiyah General Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…Chemoprophylaxis still the most effective ways for prevention of GBS infections in mothers and neonates [24]. in the current work the GBS strains isolated from pregnant women was 100% susceptible to linezolid and vancomycin followed by ampicillin (93.1%) and tobramicin (83.9%) then gentamicin (81.6%) and levofloxacin(78.2%) and showed least antibiotic susceptibility to erythromycin (26.4%).…”

“…Out of 540 pregnant women 87 (16.1%) were colonized with GBS isolates, their age were 26 (24-33) years old. The positive GBS women aged 25 (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) and negative GBS women aged 23 (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35) with no statistical difference. Patients aged more than 35 years old has the higher rate of positive GBS, 46.2%.…”