Volume 32, Number 10—October 2026
Synopsis
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Group B Streptococcus Rectovaginal Colonization Rates and Serotype Distribution among Pregnant Women, Asia-Pacific Region, 2014–2025
Zheng Quan Toh
, Lien Anh Ha Do, Darren Suryawijaya Ong, Claire von Mollendorf1, and Fiona M. Russell1
, Lien Anh Ha Do, Darren Suryawijaya Ong, Claire von Mollendorf1, and Fiona M. Russell1
Table 1
Summary of included studies, according to country-income status, in study of group B Streptococcus rectovaginal colonization rates and serotype distribution among pregnant women, Asia-Pacific region, 2014–2025*
| Country income level | No. studies | Asia-Pacific region | Pregnant women tested, no. (range†) | Women with GBS colonization, no. (range†) | Studies with GBS serotyping data, no. (%) | Studies with AMR data, no. (%) | ROB score, median (IQR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High income | 38 | 758,701 (79–318,740) | 149,899 (17–30,176) | 7 (18.4) | 10 (28.9) | 5 (4–6) | |
| Australia | 10 | Oceania | 89,828 (531–60,674) | 19,253 (106–13,058) | 1 (10.0) | 1 (10.0) | 5 (3.3–6) |
| Hong Kong, China | 6 | East Asia | 435,391 (134–318,740) | 89,173 (63–63,767) | 0 | 1 (16.7) | 5.5 (3.5–6.8) |
| Japan | 9 | East Asia | 6,870 (79–1,957) | 1,162 (17–423) | 4 (44.4) | 2 (22.2) | 6 (4–6) |
| South Korea | 6 | East Asia | 36,182 (150–33,721) | 3,856 (23–3,578) | 2 (33.3) | 3 (50.0) | 5.5 (5–6.8) |
| Taiwan |
7 |
East Asia |
190,430 (519–154,088) |
36,455 (113–30,176) |
0 |
3 (42.9) |
5 (4–6.5) |
| Upper-middle income | 38 | 210,333 (100–49,908) | 22,058 (19–5,902) | 10 (25.6) | 13 (33.3) | 5 (4–6) | |
| China | 33 | East Asia | 208,819 (116–49,908) | 21,668 (18–5,902) | 9 (26.5) | 11 (32.4) | 5 (4–6) |
| Indonesia | 2 | Southeast Asia | 336 (159–177) | 79 (26–53) | 1 (50.0) | 1 (50.0) | 5.5 (4.3–6.8) |
| Malaysia | 1 | Southeast Asia | 573 | 235 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Thailand |
2 |
Southeast Asia |
605 (100–505) |
76 (19–57) |
0 |
1 (50.0) |
6 (5.5–6.5) |
| Low and middle income | 31‡ | 13,727 (50–3,863) | 1,688 (0–310) | 8 (25.8) | 11 (35.5) | 5 (4–6) | |
| Bangladesh | 3 | South Asia | 1,375 (224–1,151) | 356 (46–172) | 2 (66.7) | 1 (33.3) | 5 (5–6.5) |
| India | 13 | South Asia | 4,687 (50–966) | 402 (0–174) | 2 (15.4) | 5 (38.5) | 5 (4–6) |
| Pakistan | 5 | South Asia | 839 (78–261) | 136 (18–48) | 1 (20.0) | 0 | 5 (4–6) |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | South Asia | 825 (150–250) | 142 (28–45) | 1 (25.0) | 3 (75.0) | 5 (4.5–5.3) |
| Vietnam |
6 |
Southeast Asia |
6,001 (50–3,863) |
652 (3−310) |
2 (33.3) |
2 (33.3) |
6 (4.5–6.5) |
| Total | 106‡ | 982,761 | 173,645 | 25 (23.5) | 34 (32.1) | 5 (4–6) |
*Expanded data are provided in Appendix Table 2. AMR, antimicrobial drug resistance; ANC, antenatal clinic; IQR, interquartile range; ROB, risk of bias. †Range indicates the number of persons included in each study. ‡One study contributed data to both Bangladesh and India; therefore, country-specific counts exceed the total number of included studies.
1These authors contributed equally to this article.
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