Isolation of Group B Streptococci from Antenatal Women
Group B streptococci or Streptococcus agalactiae, is a well recognized pathogen in veterinary medicine because of its role as causative agent of bovine mastitis. There has been increasing interest in Group B streptococci (GBS) due to their association with and recognition as pathogens of neonatal infections like sepsis and meningitis (Hood, et al. 1961; Eickhoff, et al. 1964) They are present in 15 20% of pregnant women, in lower genital tract (HoogkampKorstanje, et al. 1982) Vaginal colonization by GBS during pregnancy is associated with life threatening neonatal infections acquired during passage through the birth canal, and it has been the most frequent cause of purulent meningitis in infants aged less than 2 months (Baker, et al. 1973; Barton, et al. 1973) International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319 7706 Volume 5 Number 5 (2016) pp. 848 854 Journal homepage: http:/www.ijcmas.com