Group B Streptococci Serotype Distribution in Pregnant Women in Ghana Assessment of Potential Coverage Through Future Vaccines

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and serotype distribution of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Ghana since colonization of pregnant women can lead to subsequent infection of the newborn and potentially fatal invasive disease and this knowledge is a prerequisite for future evaluation of vaccine trials.

METHODS: Double-centre study conducted in one rural and one urban hospital in central Ghana, West Africa. Women in late pregnancy (≥35 weeks of gestation) attending the antenatal care clinic (ANC) provided recto-vaginal swabs for GBS-testing. GBS isolates were analysed for serotype and antibiotic susceptibility. GBS-positive women were treated with intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) according to current guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

RESULTS: 519 women were recruited at both study sites, recto-vaginal swabs were taken from 509. The overall prevalence of GBS was 19.1% (18.1% in rural Pramso and 23.1% in urban Kumasi). Capsular polysaccharide serotype (CPS) Ia was the most frequent (28.1%), followed by serotype V (27.1%) and III (21.9%). No resistance to penicillin was detected; but there was resistance to second-line antibiotics clindamycin (3.1%) and erythromycin (1%).

DISCUSSION: GBS serotype distribution in Ghana is similar to that worldwide, but variations in prevalence of certain serotypes between the urban and rural study were high. Antibiotic resistance of GBS strains was surprisingly low in this study. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.