Risk factors for maternal colonization with group B beta-hemolytic streptococci.

Colonization with group B beta-hemolytic streptococci (GBS) at any time during pregnancy is an important risk factor for neonatal sepsis. To determine which groups of pregnant women are at high risk for GBS, a retrospective chart review was conducted on 608 pregnant women who had recorded data on prenatal charts and were seen between October 1995 and December 1997 at a family practice-run prenatal clinic. A total of 543 subjects were studied after exclusion of women who had no results of GBS colonization recorded.