The association of preterm labor with vaginal colonization of group B streptococci

Group B streptococcus is regarded as a potential factor for adverseoutcomes of pregnancy such as preterm birth.

To study the association of maternal vaginal colonization with group Bstreptococcus (GBS) and preterm labor.

From April 2005 to May 2006, vaginal culture for GBS wereconducted in 101 laboring women with a gestational age of 24-37 weeks and 105women admitted for term delivery at maternity center of Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman,Iran. Student`s t test and Chi square test were used to compare continuous andcategorical data between the groups. Using multivariate logistic regression theassociation between GBS colonization and preterm labor was analyzed. P-values<0.05were considered as significant.

Colonization was detected in 9.2% of all mothers. Although GBS colonizationwas found more frequently in preterm than term patients (12 v/s 7 cases), the differencewas not statistically significant. However, GBS positivity was roughly associated withpreterm labor. Age was also a risk factor for GBS colonization. No case of perinatalsepsis occurred during the study period.

Maternal colonization for GBS is relatively low in our center. Increasingage enhances the risk of colonization. Vaginal colonization of GBS is relativelyassociated with preterm labor.