Vaginal carriage of Streptococcus agalactiae among pregnant women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the main bacteria responsible of serious neonatal infections. Neonatal transmission is very high at the end of pregnancy between the 34th and 38th week of gestation, and the systematic screening of GBS is strongly recommended in Burkina Faso. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of GBS carriage among pregnant women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of 300 pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy, conducted between July and November 2020. Vaginal sample was collected from each of the pregnant women during prenatal consultations. The samples were cultured on blood agar and the isolated pathogens were identified using the BD Phoenix M50 automated system. Antibiotic sensitivity test was performed on each isolate according to the recommendations of the CA-SFM-EUCAST 2020. Results: Of the 300 women, 12 samples were positive for GBS, giving a carriage rate of 4.0%. All the GBS isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, cefotaxime, vancomycin and nitrofurantoin. On the other hand, resistance was encountered against penicillin G, erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. None of the risk factors assessed was statistically predictive of vaginal carriage of GBS in the pregnant women. Conclusion: Vaginal carriage of GBS remains relevant. Pending the introduction of an effective vaccine in Burkina Faso, a systematic screening policy for GBS in pregnant women would help reduce perinatal infections from GBS, and the attendant neonatal and infant mortality.