Group B streptococci colonization in pregnant women: risk factors and evaluation of the vaginal flora

To determine the prevalence of group B streptococci (GBS) in our population, and to assess the association between risk factors and vaginal flora with maternal rectovaginal colonization.Samples were obtained from 405 patients between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation. Swabs from the vaginal and perianal regions were cultured in Todd Hewitt and subcultured in blood agar. Colonies suggestive of GBS were submitted to catalase and CAMP test. The vaginal flora was evaluated on Gram stain vaginal smears. Socio-demographic and obstetric data were obtained by designed form. Considering maternal GBS colonization as the response variable, a logistic regression model was fitted by the stepwise method with quantitative and qualitative explanatory variables.The prevalence of GBS colonization was 25.4%. The most frequent vaginal flora abnormalities were cytolytic vaginosis (11.3%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (10.9%), candidosis (8.2%) and intermediate vaginal flora II (8.1%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that maternal age, number of sexual intercourse/week, occurrence of previous spontaneous abortion, presence of candidosis and cytolytic vaginosis were associated with streptococcal colonization.The prevalence of GBS is high in pregnant women and is associated with sexual intercourse frequency, previous spontaneous abortion and the presence of candidosis or cytolytic vaginosis.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Resultado perinatal de fetos com malformações do trato urinário

OBJETIVO: analisar a evolução perinatal de fetos portadores de malformações do trato urinário. MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo envolvendo 35 fetos portadores de malformações do trato urinário. As malformações foram classificadas de acordo com as seguintes características: tipo de uropatia e acometimento. As uropatias estudadas foram: hidronefrose, classificada em alta e baixa, displasia e agenesia renal; quanto à lateralidade da malformação, foi considerado o acometimento uni e bilateral. O resultado perinatal foi confrontado com as características citadas. A análise estatística foi realizada usando-se o teste do c² e teste exato de Fisher, sendo adotado 5% como limite de significância (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: a incidência de hidronefrose foi de 68,6% e o acometimento foi bilateral em metade destes fetos. Displasia renal ocorreu em 17,1% e, em 83,3% destes, foi bilateral. A incidência de agenesia renal foi de 14,3%, sendo sempre bilateral. No grupo displasia/agenesia observou-se 91% de oligoâmnio, prematuridade, baixo peso ao nascimento e de óbito. Nos casos de uropatia bilateral foi significativa a ocorrência de oligoâmnio, prematuridade, baixo peso, óbito, infecção do trato urinário e permanência hospitalar por mais de sete dias. Entre os fetos com obstrução baixa, a permanência hospitalar por mais de sete dias foi significativa. CONCLUSÕES: neste estudo, foram mais freqüentes o acometimento bilateral e a hidronefrose e, dentre elas, as obstruções baixas; o grupo displasia/agenesia apresentou pior prognóstico quando comparado ao grupo hidronefrose; o acometimento renal bilateral determinou pior prognóstico em relação àqueles com acometimento unilateral; a obstrução baixa do trato urinário determinou maior tempo de internação em relação às obstruções altas

Zuspan's Scheme Versus an Alternative Magnesium Sulfate Scheme: Randomized Clinical Trial of Magnesium Serum Concentrations

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether magnesium serum concentrations in patients with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia treated with two different magnesium sulfate schemes were different. Methods. Fourteen patients were randomly assigned in the alternative scheme group and 15 in the Zuspan's group. The difference between the groups was that the intravenously administered maintenance dose was done with 1 g/h by continuous intravenous infusion in the Zuspan's group and 2g in bolus every two hours in the alternative scheme. Blood samples were collected previously to treatment and every 15 minutes during four hours after the beginning of treatment. The primary outcome measure was area under the curve and the t-test was used for statistical analysis with level of statistical significance of 5%. The evaluation of the punctual means at all moments in the alternative group was done with the repeated measures analysis of variance. Results. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between groups. In both schemes, magnesium serum concentration reaches a peak within 15 minutes and a new peak was observed after maintenance dose in the alternative scheme. The area under the curve was significantly lower in the alternative scheme than in the Zuspan's scheme (702.1 +/- 73.5 mg/dL vs 796.1 +/- 94.6 mg/dL). Conclusion. The serum magnesium concentration of this randomized clinical trial doesn't support the use of the alternative scheme of magnesium sulfate to prevent or treat eclampsia.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP