Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To explore the risk factors for group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization in late pregnancy and analyze its association with gestational carbohydrate metabolism markers and maternal and neonatal outcomes.
METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 1 691 pregnant women in the late pregnancy who were admitted to the Taian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from Aug. 2023 to Jun. 2025. Based on the results of GBS screening, they were divided into the GBS-positive group (113 cases) and the GBS-negative group (1 578 cases). The study analyzed the risk factors for GBS colonization, the association between carbohydrate metabolism markers and GBS colonization and load, as well as the relationship between GBS colonization and load stratification and maternal and neonatal outcomes.
RESULTS The overall colonization rate of GBS was 6.68%. Gestational hyperglycemia (OR=1.585), gestational hypertension (OR=1.892) and abnormal vaginal cleanliness (OR=1.614) were risk factors for GBS colonization (P<0.05). The GBS colonization rate in the pregestational diabetes mellitus group was 24% (6/25), which was higher than that in the gestational diabetes mellitus group (P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the oral glucose tolerance test time-blood glucose curve in the GBS-positive group was 13.64 (12.30, 15.01), which was higher than that in the negative group (P<0.05). The Ct value in the gestational hyperglycemia group was 28.43 (26.04, 32.95), which was lower than that in the non-hyperglycemia group (P<0.05). GBS colonization increased the risk of premature delivery, fetal distress, neonatal pneumonia and pathological jaundice (P<0.05). The incidence of combined adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in the high-load group (Ct value <28) was 41.94% (13/31), which was higher than that in the low-load group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS The risk factors for GBS colonization include gestational hyperglycemia, gestational hypertension and abnormal vaginal cleanliness. Gestational hyperglycemia is associated with increased GBS load. GBS colonization (especially high load) increases the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.