Colonization of pregnant women and their newborn infants with group B streptococci in the Gondar College of Medical Sciences.

In a study of Group B streptococcal carriage, 200 postpartum women and 80 newborn infants were investigated in the Gondar College of Medical Sciences from January to April 1987, using swabs from the vagina and rectum, and from the throat and external ear, respectively. We found a colonization rate of 9% (18/200) in the mothers and 5% (4/80) in the neonates. The serological typing of the 25 isolated strains showed 60% (15/25) to be Type Ib/c and 16% (4/25) to be Type Ia strains. Therefore, in newborn infants with infections, diagnostic and bacteriological procedures should include a search for Group B Streptococci.