Group B Streptococci and Trichomonas vaginalis infections in pregnant women and those with spontaneous abortion at Sanandaj, Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Group B Streptococcali (GBS) is an important factor in newborn deaths in developed and developing countries. Trichomoniasis is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the world, which is caused by protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis). The present study compares the frequency of GBS and T. vaginalis genital infections in pregnant women, women with spontaneous abortion, as well as its role in spontaneous abortion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, 109 women were included with spontaneous abortion with gestational ages between 11–20 weeks and 109 pregnant women with gestational ages between 35–37 weeks in Sanandaj, Iran. DNA was extracted by endocervical swabs and subjected to PCR assays. The independent t-test was used; and for comparing other qualitative variables in each group, the Chi-Square Test was used. RESULTS: The age of the women ranged from 19–43 years (29.6 ± 5.9) and in the control group the age range was from 19–42 years (27.8 ± 4.87). The rate of prevalence of Group B Streptococcal infection in the control group was 3.6%; and in the patient group there were 7.2% with the rate of prevalence of T. vaginalis in both groups as zero. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that there is no relationship between GBS infections (P-value = 0.235) and T. vaginalis.