Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus Colonization During Pregnancy and Associated Neonatal Outcomes at Vachira Phuket Hospital
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Abstract
Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization is a major cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis. Despite implementation of universal screening at Vachira Phuket Hospital, screening uptake and neonatal transfer rates remained concerns.
Objectives: To determine GBS prevalence, evaluate screening coverage, and identify factors associated with neonatal transfer, NICU admission, and length of stay (LOS).
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study included all live births at Vachira Phuket Hospital, between January 2023 and December 2024. Maternal GBS status was determined by universal or reflex culture screening. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses identified predictors of neonatal transfer, NICU admission, and LOS.
Results: Among 6,173 live births, overall GBS screening coverage was 27.4% (95% CI 26.3–28.5). GBS prevalence among screened women was 6.2%, higher in Thai than non-Thai mothers (6.9% vs 3.2%, p=0.012). Among 1,691 screened mother–newborn pairs, 49.2% of neonates required transfer and 6.7% were admitted to the NICU. Maternal GBS colonization was not associated with neonatal transfer, NICU admission, or LOS. Gestational age was the strongest predictor: each additional week reduced the risk of transfer (OR 0.8, p<0.001), NICU admission (OR 0.8, p=0.013), and shortened LOS by 2.4 days (p<0.001). Higher birth weight was associated with shorter LOS, while non-spontaneous delivery increased transfer risk.
Conclusions: GBS prevalence at Vachira Phuket Hospital was 6.2%, while screening coverage remained inadequate. Maternal GBS colonization was not independently associated with neonatal outcomes in this cohort, prematurity and low birth weight remained dominant determinants of adverse neonatal outcomes. However, this finding should be interpreted cautiously due to limited screening coverage and potential residual bias. The absence of association does not exclude a clinically relevant effect, and standard GBS prevention strategies should continue to be emphasized.
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บทความที่ส่งมาลงพิมพ์ต้องไม่เคยพิมพ์หรือกำลังได้รับการพิจารณาตีพิมพ์ในวารสารอื่น เนื้อหาในบทความต้องเป็นผลงานของผู้นิพนธ์เอง ไม่ได้ลอกเลียนหรือตัดทอนจากบทความอื่น โดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาตหรือไม่ได้อ้างอิงอย่างเหมาะสม การแก้ไขหรือให้ข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมแก่กองบรรณาธิการ จะต้องเสร็จสิ้นเป็นที่เรียบร้อยก่อนจะได้รับพิจารณาตีพิมพ์ และบทความที่ตีพิมพ์แล้วเป็นสมบัติ ของลำปางเวชสาร
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