[Colonization of pregnant females and their newborn infants with group B streptococci at the Gondar College of Medical Sciences].

The importance of neonatal septicemia and meningitis caused by group B streptococci (GBS) has risen worldwide in the last ten years. Between January and June 1987 200 nonselected intrapartum women at Gondar College of Medical Sciences were examined for GBS colonization. One rectal and vaginal swab was collected from each woman and cultured in 5% sheepblood agar. Cultures also from 80 newborns were obtained from throat and ear. The colonization rate of women was 9.0%. 5% of the newborns were positive for GBS. The most frequent isolated GBS-type was I b/c, this result is different from those in Europe and the USA. The authors believe, that GBS infections of newborns in development countries are also possible. These severe infections should be included in the diagnostic and therapeutic measures in future.