Maternal β-Hemolytic Streptococcal Pharyngeal Exposure and Colonization in Pregnancy

Abstract EN

Objectives.

To report the pharyngeal colonization rate of β-hemolytic streptococci and changes in the value of antistreptolysin O (ASO) and anti-DNase B serology titers during pregnancy.

Methods.

Healthy pregnant women were recruited and blood was drawn in each trimester.

The upper limit of normal (ULN) values for ASO and anti-DNase B was calculated for each trimester.

Throat swabs were collected for culture and positive cultures were further assessed for the identification of serogroup of the isolated β-hemolytic streptococcus.

Results.

Out of a total of 126 pregnant women, 34.1% had positive throat cultures.

Group C and group G strains were isolated in 18.2% of throat cultures while group F was detected in 13.5% of cases.

The rate of colonization with GAS was 1.6%.

There was an overall drop in ASO titer during pregnancy while anti-DNase B titers remained relatively unchanged.

ULN values of 164IU, 157IU, and 156IU were calculated for ASO at the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively.

Based on the ULN values, 28.6% of patients had recent streptococcal exposure.

Conclusions.

These results show that pregnant women act as a reservoir for spreading potentially immunogenic (groups C and G) and disease producing (group F) virulent strains of streptococci.