Six-Month Prevalence of Vaginal Streptococcus agalactiae Colonization and Early Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women at Taleghani Hospital, Ilam (2023–2024)

Moradi, Fatemeh; Chehreh, Razhan; Pirhayati, Fereshteh; Amiri, Fattaneh; Asadollahi, Khairollah; Asadollahi, Parisa

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Volume 33, Issue 4 (9-2025)

Journal of Ilam University of Medical Sciences 2025, 33(4): 44-56

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Six-Month Prevalence of Vaginal Streptococcus agalactiae Colonization and Early Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women at Taleghani Hospital, Ilam (2023–2024)

Fatemeh Moradi¹

, Razhan Chehreh²

, Fereshteh Pirhayati³

, Fattaneh Amiri³

, Khairollah Asadollahi⁴

, Parisa Asadollahi ^*⁵

1- Dept of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
2- Dept of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
3- Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
4- Dept of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
5- Dept of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran , asadolahi.p@gmail.com

Abstract: (51 Views)

Introduction: Streptococcus agalactiae, a leading cause of neonatal infections, is asymptomatic in pregnant women but can cause complications. Monitoring antibiotic resistance patterns is crucial to control these infections and ensure the efficacy of standard treatment protocols. This study aimed to determine the six-month prevalence of GBS colonization, assess associated perinatal outcomes, and evaluate the antibiotic resistance profiles of isolated strains in pregnant women attending Taleghani Hospital in Ilam, Iran (2023–2024).
Materials & Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 109 pregnant women at 35–37 weeks of gestation were evaluated. Vaginal swab samples were cultured on sheep blood agar, and GBS identification was performed using microscopic examination, catalase and CAMP tests, and bacitracin susceptibility. Antibiotic resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, and cefazolin was assessed using the disk diffusion method in SPSS V 20 at p less than 0.05.
Results: Of the 109 samples, four (3.7%) were positive for GBS colonization. Among these, two isolates (50%) showed resistance to clindamycin and one isolate (25%) to erythromycin, while all were sensitive to cefazolin. Most deliveries were performed via cesarean section, and no GBS-related neonatal complications were observed at birth.
Conclusion: The study found that Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization among pregnant women in Ilam is relatively low (3.7%) and not linked to immediate neonatal complications. However, the detection of antibiotic resistance and the global burden of GBS-related neonatal morbidity highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and monitoring of antibiotic resistance patterns. This could lead to revising screening policies and developing regional preventive strategies.

Keywords: Streptococcus agalactiae, Pregnant Women, Colonization, Perinatal Outcome, Epidemiology

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Type of Study: Research | Subject: departmet of gynecology and obstetrics
Received: 2025/05/21 | Accepted: 2025/08/9 | Published: 2025/09/27

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Moradi F, Chehreh R, Pirhayati F, Amiri F, Asadollahi K, Asadollahi P. Six-Month Prevalence of Vaginal Streptococcus agalactiae Colonization and Early Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women at Taleghani Hospital, Ilam (2023–2024). J. Ilam Uni. Med. Sci. 2025; 33 (4) :44-56
URL: http://sjimu.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-8632-en.html

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