<i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i> in asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic bacteriuria caused by group B gram-positive streptococcus, Streptococcus agalactiae, in pregnant women is a leading cause of sepsis in newborns and young children, transmitted from their mothers. In the present study, the frequency of S. agalactiae inoculation from the urine of pregnant women with asymptomatic bacteriuria was studied with the determination of the sensitivity of isolated strains to antibiotics. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the inoculation of group B streptococcus in asymptomatic bacteriuria of pregnant women and to determine the sensitivity of the isolated cultures of the pathogen to the main antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis involved bacteriological studies of 2,559 urine samples collected from pregnant women. Urine was inoculated on UriSelect 4 Medium chromogenic medium with subsequent identification of S. agalactiae using a strepto-latex test or a CAMP test with a Staphylococcus aureus culture. The sensitivity of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs was determined using the disk diffusion method. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistica 12.0 software package. RESULTS: Out of 2,559 urine samples studied, asymptomatic bacteriuria was detected in 317 samples (12.4%), and 330 strains of microorganisms were isolated. S. agalactiae was isolated by culture from 108 pregnant women (4.2% of the total subjects), with 50 cases (16%) showing asymptomatic bacteriuria caused by S. agalactiae. The high significance of Escherichia coli in asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women was shown, with a lesser extent of involvement observed with Enterococcus spp. Furthermore, associations of S. agalactiae with other microorganisms were identified. The high sensitivity of S. agalactiae strains to clindamycin, to a lesser extent to levofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and, especially, to erythromycin, has been demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed a high culturability of group B streptococcus in asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women. Low sensitivity of isolated streptococci to erythromycin, moderate sensitivity to levofloxacin and chloramphenicol, and high sensitivity to clindamycin were also revealed.