What is the percentage of women colonized by Group B Streptococcus?

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women is a significant consideration in obstetrics due to its potential implications for neonatal infection. Approximately 20% to 30% of pregnant women are colonized with GBS during late gestation, particularly in the vaginal and rectal areas. The choice of 30% represents the upper range of this estimate and is often used in clinical guidelines to describe the prevalence of colonization within this population. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of this percentage since screening and potential intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis are based on GBS colonization status to prevent group B strep disease in newborns.

In contrast, other options provided do not accurately reflect the commonly accepted prevalence rates seen in the clinical population. The percentages of colonization below 30% would not accurately represent the risk factors encountered during pregnancy.