Enhanced antenatal detection of group B streptococcus colonization

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Objective:

To improve culture methods for the detection of group B streptococcus colonization.

Methods:

This study prospectively compared the standard culture medium, a blood agar plate, to a selective culture medium, Todd Hewitt broth with antibiotics, and compared vaginal culture with rectal culture at the first prenatal exam.

Results:

Of the 383 vaginal swabs received for evaluation of the two culture media, 78 (20.4%) were positive for group B streptococcus. The detection rates of the blood agar plate method and the Todd Hewitt broth with antibiotics were 64.1 and 97.4%, respectively. Using the Todd Hewitt broth with antibiotics, an additional 94 patients were cultured vaginaHy and rectally. Twenty-nine (30.9%) had positive cultures. The rate of detection was 58.6% for the vaginal culture, 89.7% for the rectal culture, and 100% for both culture sites combined.

Conclusion:

These data indicate that culture detection of group B streptococcus can be improved by using both a selective broth medium and a dual vaginal and rectal culture.

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