MATERNAL CARRIAGE AND NEONATAL COLONIZATION OF GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCI IN LABOR ARE UNCOMMON IN TURKEY

Group B streptococcus infection is an important cause of neonatal morb idity and mortality. We studied 114 women and their newborns to determ ine the relationship between maternal carriage and neonatal group B st reptococcal colonisation. Rectal, cervical and vaginal swabs were take n at delivery. Within a few minutes of birth, swab specimens were also taken from throat, ear, umbilicus, conjuctiva and skin of the newborn s. Group B streptococcus was isolated in 10 (8.7%) of the 114 pregnant women studied and in five (4.3%) of the 114 newborns. Vertical transm ission rate was found to be 50%. Neonatal group B streptococcus coloni sation has not reached a high level in Turkey, and consequently does n ot warrant intrapartum screening at the moment.