Antibiotic Susceptibility of Group B Streptococcal Strains in Women of Child-Bearing Age. Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease

G. L. Popa, O. Vizitiu, R. Georgescu, L. Grigore, C. Iarca, N. Beldescu, M. I. Popa

Abstract: To describe antibiotic sensitivity of strains isolated from women of childbearing age. Were reviewed opinions available and are discussed the relevant articles and their points of view. There were analyzed samples from 782 patients who presented for different reasons at the „Cantacuzino” National Institute for Research and Development for Microbiology and Immunology (NIRDMI) medical laboratory in a seven months period (September, 2006 - March, 2007). The antibiotic susceptibility of GBS strains isolated from these patients was analyzed. The majority of strains isolated were sensitive to penicillin (96.2%), ampicillin (97.1%) and cefuroxime (99.1%). The sensitivity to quinolones was over 91.7%. Were identified relatively few strains resistant to erythromicin (5%), clindamycin (5.3%), and chloramphenicol (6.8%), compared to medical literature. Even if there is no surveillance system for group B streptococcal diseases (GBSD) in our country, on the basis of information from medical international literature, we can assume that GBSD represent a public health problem. Further studies of clinical and public health importance are needed in order to sustain the best prevention strategy for GBSD in Romania.
Keywords: Group B Streptococcus, perinatal, screening strategies, antibiotic susceptibility