Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 29: 1781 - 1792. Published May 10, 2010.
Isolation and characterization of Group B Streptococci and other pathogens among pregnant women in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria
Donbraye-Emmanuel OOB 1, Okonko IO 2*, Donbraye E 3, Fadeyi A 4, Abubakar MJ 5, Adebiyi OE 1, and Fashina NA 1
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria; 2Department of Virology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria; 3Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, Nigeria; 4Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria; 5Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger, Nigeria
*Corresponding author e-mail: mac2finney@yahoo.comABSTRACT
O
Objective: The detection of Group B streptococci (GBS) in pregnant women allows intrapartum administration of antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent perinatal infection. This study aimed to determine the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of group B streptococci and other pathogens isolated from pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Methods and results: One hundred antenatal clinic attendees at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan, were recruited for this study. The age range of the participants was 16 – 41 years, with ages 21– 30 years constituting 63%. Participants were interviewed using a questionnaire to gather demographic data. Two samples of high vaginal swab (HVS) were collected per participant and processed using standard bacteriological methods. The results showed that a total of 120 microbes were isolated and 10 (8.3%) of these isolates were GBS. Other organisms include Staphylococcus aureus [22(18.3%)], Candida albicans [17(14.2%)], Candida species [9(7.5%)], Proteus species [8(6.7%)], Escherichia coli [6(5.0%)], Trichomonas vaginalis [6(5.0%)], Streptococcus pyogenes [5(4.2%)], Enterococcus species [3(2.5%)], and non-pathogens [34(28.3%)]. The pattern of GBS isolated from different age ranges showed that, the incidence was not age-dependent (P=0.05). The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the bacterial pathogens were studied using disc-diffusion techniques. All the GBS isolates were sensitive to Penincillin G and Erythromycin; with 80% sensitive to Ampicillin, Vancomycin and Augmentin.
Conclusion and application of findings: The relatively high incidence (8.3%) of GBS colonization among the pregnant women emphasizes the importance of correct diagnosis and prevention of neonatal infections and of detecting colonization at the end of pregnancy. Therefore, a thorough medical examination and culture of HVS is highly recommended for pregnant women to ensure detection of GBS infection among these immunosuppressed persons. The recovery of antibiotic resistant strains of other bacterial pathogens, especially those recommended in cases of penicillin allergy, also indicates the importance of evaluating microbial susceptibility to antibiotics.
Key words: Antibiotics, GBS colonization, HVS, pregnant women, susceptibility, Nigeria
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