Group B streptococcus and Escherichia coli colonization in pregnant women and neonates in Lithuania

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of maternal and neonatal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli, and examine GBS serotypes and susceptibility to antibiotics.MethodsA prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in Lithuania between October 2006 and June 2007. Lower vaginal/rectal swabs were obtained from pregnant women (n = 998) and ear canal/throat swabs were obtained from their newborns (n = 827) for culture.ResultsOverall, maternal and neonatal GBS colonization rates were 15.3% and 6.4%, respectively. Serotypes III (34.5%) and Ia (29.7%) were most common. All GBS isolates were susceptible to penicillin and 4.1% were resistant to erythromycin. Overall, maternal and neonatal E. coli colonization rates were 19.9% and 14.4%, respectively. In total, 71.4% of newborns with E. coli colonization were born to E. coli-negative mothers. E. coli was resistant to ampicillin and piperacillin in 25.9% and 16.6% of cases, respectively. The majority of E. coli-colonized newborns were contaminated with maternal fecal, but not vaginal, E. coli strains.ConclusionMaternal and neonatal GBS colonization rates, serotypes, and susceptibility to antibiotics were comparable to those reported in previous studies. Population-based data regarding early-onset neonatal infection rates will enable the formulation of a prevention program for early-onset GBS disease in Lithuania.