Group B streptococcus infection rate unchanged by gestational diabetes

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization during pregnancy is linked to adverse perinatal outcomes.
• Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication.
• The impact of GDM on GBS-related perinatal morbidity is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether gestational diabetes increases the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity in pregnancies colonized with group B streptococcus.
• To compare perinatal outcomes between gestational diabetic and nondiabetic women with and without GBS colonization.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study comparing 446 women with gestational diabetes to 1,046 nondiabetic women.
• Vaginal or anogenital cultures were used to identify group B streptococcus colonization.
• Outcomes assessed included intra-amniotic infection, endometritis, and neonatal sepsis, with adjustments for confounding variables.

Main Results:

• GBS colonization rates were similar (12%) in both gestational diabetic and nondiabetic groups.
• No significant differences in intra-amniotic infection or endometritis rates were observed between groups, regardless of GBS status.
• While overall neonatal sepsis was higher in GBS-positive women, it did not differ between diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancies.

Conclusions:

• Gestational diabetes does not appear to modify the perinatal morbidity associated with group B streptococcus colonization.
• Pregnant women with gestational diabetes do not face an elevated risk of GBS-related complications compared to their nondiabetic counterparts.