GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCUS COLONIZATION IN PREGNANT DIABETIC WOMEN

Objective: To evaluate the influence of maternal diabetes on the risk of group B streptococcus colonization during pregnancy. Methods: We pr ospectively analyzed data on 105 pregnant women with diabetes mellitus , both pregestational and gestational, and a control group of 300 preg nant women without carbohydrate intolerance. All had singleton gestati ons, negative tests for human immunodeficiency virus, and intact membr anes at enrollment. Culture specimens for group B streptococcus were o btained from the lower vaginal walls and rectum. Two-tailed unpaired S tudent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi(2) test were used as appro priate. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to evalua te the independent influence of maternal diabetes on the rate of group B streptococcus colonization. Results: Compared to controls, diabetic women had a higher colonization rate (43.8 versus 22.7%, odds ratio [ OR] 2.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6, 4.1). The prevalence of gr oup B streptococcus colonization in pregestational diabetic women was 54.1% and in women with gestational diabetes it was 35.1% (P = .05). A mong women with pregestational diabetes, the prevalence of group B str eptococcus colonization was 59.1% in class B and 50.0% in class C to R (P = not significant). After we adjusted for maternal age, race, and obesity, diabetic women continued to be at increased risk of group B s treptococcus colonization (OR 3.5 95% CI 1.8, 5.2). Conclusion: Carboh ydrate intolerance appears to be an independent risk factor for group B streptococcus coloniza- tion during pregnancy. Copyright (C) 1997 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.