Evaluation of a rapid, real-time intrapartum group B streptococcus assay

Real-time PCR assay provides reliable assessment of intrapartum carriage of group B Streptococcus.

The objective of this study was to determine the reliability of the real-time PCR assay for determining the group B Streptococcus (GBS) status of women in labor. In this prospective study we compared the results of culture and PCR testing of vaginal and rectal samples collected by nursing staff when women were in labor. Patients' charts were also reviewed to obtain relevant information about pr...

Usefulness of a Rapid Real-time PCR Assay in Prenatal Screening for Group B Streptococcus Colonization

BACKGROUND Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Here, we present the analytical and diagnostic usefulness of a new real-time PCR-based assay (Xpert GBS; Cepheid, USA) for rapid and accurate prenatal GBS screening. METHODS We enrolled 175 pregnant women who were between 35 and 39 weeks of gestation. The analytical performance o...

Significance of Gram's Stain in Rapid Intrapartum Screening for Maternal Carriership of Group B Streptococcus

OBJECTIVE Group B streptococcus (GBS, Streptococcus agalactiae) is an important cause of neonatal sepsis. Prevention is possible by intrapartum screening for maternal GBS carriership and antimicrobial treatment of colonized women with risk factors during labor. The conflicting results of diagnostic performance are reported both for the newly developed rapid GBS antigen tests and Gram's stain. ...

Erratum to: Standardisation and evaluation of a quantitative multiplex real-time PCR assay for the rapid identification of Streptococcus pneumonia

Latex assay for serotyping of group B Streptococcus isolates.

We developed a group B streptococcus (GBS) latex serotyping kit that reduces the numbers of GBS nontypeable isolates by nearly 50%. A total of 232 isolates were tested, and 203 isolates were serotyped by the GBS latex test, while the capillary precipitation test serotyped 184 isolates.