Epidemiologic Pattern of Vaginal Colonization by Group B Streptococcus in Pregnant Women in Hamadan, Central West of Iran

Group b streptococcus (gbs)is a leading cause of seriousneonatal infections. although great progress has been made inpreventing prenatal gbs, its colonization rate in different regionsof iran remains unknown. the objective of this studywas to determine the colonization rate of gbs in pregnantwomen in hamadan city, central west of iran. a group of 544pregnant women were randomly selected after 20 weeks gestation.vaginal specimens were examined by gram staining andculture methods and gbs was identified using bacteriologiccriteria, of these cases, 145 (26.7%) were colonized by gbs,a significant relationship was found between the career ofsubjects and the related colonization rate. parity, gestationalage, and the number of children were unrelated to gbs colonization,the results are indicating that the relatively highcolonization rate of gbs in pregnant women living in centralwest of iran, warrants a routine screening and prophylactictreatment of the infected women