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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 May 16:10:851434.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.851434. eCollection 2022.

Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus Recto-Vaginal Colonization, Vertical Transmission, and Antibiotic Susceptibility Among Pregnant Women in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Habtamu Bekele  1 , Adera Debella  1 , Tamirat Getachew  1 , Bikila Balis  1 , Dawit Tamiru  1 , Addis Eyeberu  1 , Getahun Tiruye  1 , Mohammed Abdurke Kure  1 , Sisay Habte  1 , Bajrond Eshetu  1 , Lemma Demissie Regassa  2 , Sinetibeb Mesfin  1 , Adisu Alemu  2 , Yadeta Dessie  2 , Kasiye Shiferaw  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus Recto-Vaginal Colonization, Vertical Transmission, and Antibiotic Susceptibility Among Pregnant Women in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Habtamu Bekele et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Maternal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) recto-vaginal colonization is the most common route for early onset neonatal GBS diseases. A good understanding of the rate of maternal GBS colonization, vertical transmission rate, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles is needed to formulate a broad protection mechanism, like vaccine preparation. For that reason, this meta-analysis aimed at determining the pooled prevalence of GBS recto-vaginal colonization, vertical transmission rate, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles in Ethiopia.

Methods: Both published and unpublished studies were searched from MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCO), Embase, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, Web of Sciences databases, and Google Scholar. Independent selection was then carried out by the authors based on the eligibility criteria and data extraction using Microsoft excel. The authors then used STATA version 14.1 software for further cleaning and analysis. The review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) PRISMA guidelines. Using the random-effect model, the prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and forest plot were used to present the findings. Besides, the studies' heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane chi-square (I2) statistics, while Egger intercept was used to assess publication bias.

Results: This review included nineteen studies. The pooled prevalence of recto-vaginal colonization was 15% (95% CI: 11, 19), while the prevalence of vertical transmission was 51% (95% CI: 45, 58) and highest-level susceptibility to vancomycin was 99% (95% CI: 98, 100). However, the GBS susceptibility to tetracycline was 23% (95% CI: 9, 36).

Conclusions: Nearly one out of seven pregnant women in Ethiopia had recto-vaginal colonization of GBS. As a result, half of the pregnancies end with vertical transmission of GBS. Hence, the review emphasizes that policy and programs should consider planning and implementing prophylactic programs.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021287540.

Keywords: GBS; antibiotic susceptibility; colonization; pregnant women; prevalence; recto-vaginal.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram showing the selection process of eligible articles for systematic review and meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Recto vaginal colonization of GBS among pregnant women in Ethiopia 2022.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Subgroup analysis by region for the pooled prevalence of RVC of GBS among pregnant women in Ethiopia, 2022.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Funnel plot for recto vaginal colonization of Group B streptococcus among pregnant women 2022.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Funnel plot for vertical transmission of Group B streptococcus among pregnant women in Ethiopia 2022.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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