The Prevalence of group B Streptococcal Colonization in Pregnancy at Lampang Regional Hospital

Abstract

Objective To survey the prevalence of group B Streptococcal (GBS) colonization rate in
pregnant women at the antenatal clinic of Lampang Regional Hospital. As a database to
develop proper protocol of GBS diseases of newborn in Lampang Regional Hospital.
Design Cross-sectional descriptive study.
Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Lampang Regional Hospital.
Subjects Four hundred and four pregnant women 36-39 weeks of gestation at the antenatal
clinic, between March 1, 2001 and November 30, 2001, were enrolled and cervical swab
cultures were collected.
Results The colonization rate of group B streptococcal organism in pregnancy women at
Lampang Regional Hospital was 1.24% (95% CI = 0.46-3.03).
Conclusion Prevalence of group B Streptococcal in Lampang Regional Hospital was much less
than in the study of Western country. Risk-based approach for prevention of early-onset
neonatal group B streptococcal disease, may be appropriate with our status.