title: Cervical Gram stain for rapid detection of colonization with beta-streptococcus.
abstract: The group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus has been implicated in significant maternal and neonatal infections. The usual criteria for identifying the organism has been culture. A preliminary prospective study of the applicability of a simple, rapid, and readily available inexpensive screening tool, the Gram stain, was evaluated in 98 high-risk patients (premature rupture of the membranes and/or premature labor). In this selected population, cervical Gram stain was found to have a 98% negative predictive value for subsequent culture-proven group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus colonization. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values were, respectively, 93, 69, and 33%. Gram stain may be an appropriate test to assist in evaluation of group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus colonization in an at-risk population.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005840:Gentian Violet; D006801:Humans; D010619:Phenazines; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: C035863:Gram's stain; D010619:Phenazines; D005840:Gentian Violet