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Updated: May 8, 2026

A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Published on: November 16, 2016
Maternal and neonatal colonization in Bangladesh: prevalences, etiologies and risk factors
G J Chan1, J K Modak, A A Mahmud
1Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of maternal colonizers in South Asia and their potential to colonize the umbilicus, an important precondition causing neonatal sepsis.
Study Design:
We conducted a cross-sectional study at a maternity center in Dhaka with 1219 pregnant women and a subset of 152 newborns from 15 January to 31 October 2011. During labor, study paramedics collected vaginal swabs for bacterial culture and rectal swabs for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) testing. Community health workers collected neonatal umbilical swabs. Log-binomial regression models were used to estimate risk ratios.
Result:
In all, 454 women (37.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 34.5 to 40.0%) were colonized. The most common organisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Non-GBS and GBS. A total of 94 women (7.7%, 95% CI 6.2 to 9.2%) were colonized with GBS. The risk of GBS umbilical colonization was higher (RR=12.98, 95% CI 3.97 to 42.64) among newborns of mothers with GBS colonization.
Conclusion:
Newborns of mothers colonized with GBS are at higher risk of developing umbilical colonization.
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