Vaginal carriage rate of group B Streptococcus in pregnant women and its transmission to neonates.

Background: Maternal vaginal colonisation with Group B Streptococcus (GBS, Streptococcus agalactiae) at the time of delivery can cause vertical transmission to the neonate. GBS is the leading cause of sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia in the infants. Asymptomatic colonisation of the vagina with GBS varies with the geographical location.