Vaginal colonization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria during pregnancy: An observational study.

Objective: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) is a rapidly evolving enzyme that cleaves beta-lactam-containing antibiotics, forming resistance to certain types of antibiotics, such as penicillin, cephalosporins and monobactams. Colonization with ESBL-producing bacteria during pregnancy is harmful, however this topic is currently underrepresented in the literature.

Study Design: Using a retrospective design, we analyzed data of all consecutive pregnant women who were identified with a vaginal colonization of ESBL-producing bacteria from 2011 to 2016 at the Medical University of Vienna, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.